TI’s week 5 rookie ladder: Josh Giddey on the rise

No. 3 – Josh Giddey, OKC Thunder

The OKC Thunder point guard had his best week of the 2021-22 campaign in week 5. Through four games facing the Heat, Rockets, Bucks, and Celtics he averaged a double-double! Yes, you read that correctly he posted 12.3 points, 10.0 rebounds (2.8 on the offensive glass), 4.5 assists, and 2.8 turnovers.

Rookie category rankings:

• Assists: 5.8 – first
• Offensive rebounds: 1.7 – tied with Evan Mobley for second
• Double-Doubles: two – two-way tie for second
• Rebounds: 7.3 – third
• Turnovers: 2.9 – third
• Blocks: 0.6 – three-way tie for third
• Steals: 1.0 – four-way tie for fourth
• Field Goals Made: 4.5 – seventh
• Minutes per game: 29.7 – seventh
• Points: 10.8 – eighth
• Field Goal Percent: 40.7%

Although his shooting is still a work in progress he improved to  42.9 percent from the field and 25 percent from the perimeter averaging four attempts.

Giddey produced two double-doubles in the week, first versus the Rockets (14 points, 11 rebounds) and then versus the Bucks (14 points, 12 rebounds — including six on the offensive glass).

Before diving into the semantics of his week take some time to view the absolute mastery of Giddey in the pick and roll with Derrick Favors as they carved up the Hawks.

And this sweet behind-the-back pass to Favors in Boston (Derrick better be buying Giddey some dinners for the constant hookups).

This week may be the one we eventually point back to later this season as the specific point where Giddey began to invest in being a more aggressive scorer. Of course, we have the benefit of knowing in the coming week that came to fruition as the Australian is actively hunting his own shot more.

No doubt, Mark Daigneault is motivating him to develop that part of his game as his ability to score is there — it’s a matter of confidence (in my opinion).  Based on his stellar week it warranted a top three placement, and in truth, if not for a triple-double and strong overall markers by the next rookie he came within a hair of placing second on the ladder.

Although Mobley will likely supplant him again next week Giddey deserves credit for his production and growth this past week.

The OKC Thunder youngster remains a dark horse in the RoY field given his overall game and ability to impact those around him. At worst, he’s cemented an all-rookie first-team slot already.

Moving forward, with Giddey impacting all areas of the stat sheet and already surpassing what most fans expected his next step rests entirely on the development of his shot. He doesn’t even need to become a 3-point sniper but if he can raise his efficiency into the 30’s it will go a long way to opening up the court for the youngster and his teammates.