Intentions week 8 rookie ladder recognizes definitive top 5
No 5 – Josh Giddey: OKC Thunder
Although his overall stats in week eight aren’t in the same wheelhouse as those above him in terms of scoring the OKC Thunder won two of their four contests.
Rookie category rankings:
- Assists: 5.9 – first
- Double-Doubles: three
- Rebounds: 6.7 -third
- Turnovers: 3.0 – third
- Offensive rebounds: 1.4 – fourth
- Minutes per game: 29.6 – sixth
- Blocks: 0.6 – seventh
- Steals: 1.0 – tied seventh
- Field Goals Made: 4.3 – seventh
- Points: 10.4 – eighth
- Field Goal Percent: 40.4%
- 3-point field goal percent: 25.9%
The Thunder defeated the Pistons and Raptors and lost to the motivated Lakers and Doncic-less Mavericks. Through those four games, he averaged 10.8 points. 4.5 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 0.8 steals, and 4.0 turnovers.
Giddey reached double-digit scoring in three of the four matches failing only to hit that mark against the Mavericks. The Australian point guard served up complete efforts, particularly against the Raptors and Lakers.
In Toronto, his shot was also falling as he connected on three of his five 3-point attempts and finished with 13 points, four rebounds, eight assists, a block, and five turnovers. Similarly, against the Lakers, he put up an impressive full performance with 12 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and a steal but missed all five 3-point attempts.
Already it’s clear his presence on the floor is making a difference to his teammates and I wonder if Giddey, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luguentz Dort were playing with more talent just how much it would reflect in his production.