OKC Thunder: Rookie Giddey makes early impact in preseason play

Preseason for the OKC Thunder is complete and the squad will turn their attention to preparing for Wednesday, October 20th in Utah. That’s the team’s regular season-opening match against the Jazz.

The four matches played in preseason provided a measuring stick on where the team is in terms of Mark Daigneault’s systems and schemes. Some players struggled to find their rhythm which is typical for this time of year. The reality is it’s hard to get your vets and stars to go full out in matches that don’t count toward the grand scheme of things.

The opposite is true for rookies, players vying to earn a spot on the roster, or those seeking a starter’s role or additional playing time.

OKC Thunder rookie Josh Giddey makes a positive impact in preseason

With that in mind, it wasn’t surprising to witness Josh Giddey fall into the group who gave 100 percent every match.

Specifically, his numbers through the four preseason games were:

Game 1 OKC Thunder versus Hornets: Shot 8 of 12 from the field (2 of 4 from deep) for 18 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 turnovers in 29 minutes

Game 2 OKC Thunder versus Bucks: Shot 3 of 9 from the field, 3 of 4 from the stripe for 9 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, and no turnovers in 27 minutes

Game 3 OKC Thunder versus Nuggets: Shot 6 of 10 from the field, 1 of 2 from deep, 1 of 2 from the line for 14 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal, and 4 turnovers in 32 minutes

Game 4 OKC Thunder versus Nuggets: Shot 6 of 13 from the field, 1 of 4 from deep, 1 of 2 from the line for 13 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 turnovers in 28 minutes

That equates to an average of 23 of 44 or  52.2 percent from the field, 4 of 10 from deep for a robust 40 percent efficiency, and 13.5 points per game. So much for the reports that Giddey’s 3-point shot wasn’t strong.

Okay, okay, I won’t get ahead of myself because this is a small sample size and he’s not putting up a ton of attempts. Yet, that in itself speaks to another strength which is his high I.Q. As he develops the Thunder will want Giddey to take more 3-point attempts but for now, the fact he is sticking to best shot attempt (either created or taken) bode well for the club.

As impressive as his shooting production and efficiency are it’s the rebounding and assists that should have Thunder Nation giddy for Giddey. The just turned 19 year old averaged seven rebounds and five assists per game. It’s clear why the thinking was the Australian could become a triple-double threat.

Overall his game management has been impressive, he’s demonstrated the ability to read time and circumstance and showcased his adept playmaking.

Perhaps the most exciting part of his game is he shows no fear and plays with the instincts and calm of a savvy vet. Honestly, it’s rare to witness a young point guard let alone the youngest player from the draft arrive at the pros looking so at ease and producing in his first competitive action.

Sure, the turnovers are something to get under control (nine in four games) but it’s also part of the learning curve. The fact he’s showing versatility in his offense coupled with the ability to know when to call his own number versus his teammates is a huge strength for the Thunder.

Clearly, spending time in the NBL prepared him for the NBA. There is more than a little reason to be optimistic about the backcourt duo of Giddey and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. While the rookie feasted in the preseason, the same wasn’t true of SGA who was the clear defensive priority of the opposition.

There’s no need to panic on that front as the Canadian will adapt to the extra attention he expects to garner. More important this season will be how the duo develops and builds their chemistry It already seems highly possible Presti may have his future starting backcourt all locked up.

That’s not to say Giddey won’t make mistakes or will win Rookie of the Year. But, in a season where the OKC Thunder are intent on tanking to nab the top 2022 draft pick he’s sure to get ample playing time. That experience will pay future dividends and for this season it will offer the fan base plenty to cheer about.