OKC Thunder Giddy among special rookie performances in week 9

No 3 – Josh Giddey: OKC Thunder

Only two games in week nine for the OKC Thunder and Josh Giddey but the sixth pick sure raised his level of play.

Giddey averaged a double-double of 12.5 points,13.5 rebounds (3.0 offensive boards), 8.5 assists, and 0.5 steals and flirted with a triple-double in both matches.

Although the Thunder came one Hail Mary shot of winning both games the Australian’s double-double had fans in OKC cheering wildly over his court vision and extremely high I.Q.

Rookie category rankings:

• Assists: 6.0 – first
• Double-Doubles: four (third of elite five)
• Rebounds: 7.2 – third
• Turnovers: 2.9 – third
• Minutes per game: 30.0 – sixth
• Offensive rebounds: 1.5 – seventh
• Field Goals Made: 4.5 – seventh
• Points: 10.6 – eighth
• Blocks: 0.6 –  three-way tie for eighth
• Steals: 0.9 – ninth
• Field Goal Percent: 39.2%
• 3-point field goal percent: 24.2% (last of elite five)

Grabbing 18 rebounds versus the Clippers wasn’t just based on hustle. The youngster understands angles,  how to block out, and the timing necessary to be successful on the glass.

I spent the latter part of the game begging for Josh to be just a little selfish to get those two points but if any game signified what an amazing floor general and team-first player he is — it was his performance versus the Clippers.

Considering the top two rebounding rookies  — Mobley and  Barnes individual best rebounding night was 15, it highlights how impressive Giddey’s performance was. While Barnes is in a league of his own on the offensive glass, Giddey also impressed in that category pulling down four versus LA and averaged 3.0 through the two contests.

The rebounding is getting elite but I can’t move on to the next ladder rung without paying so homage to the Giddey dime machine.

This pass to Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (who is developing great chemistry with the Australian) is fire. Giddey makes it look so easy and simple but he’s threading a needle and it’s indicative of many of his dimes. His head is ALWAYS up and he always knows precisely where everyone is on the court.

Tell me you don’t spend time looking ahead imagining how fun the OKC Thunder offense is going to be in the near future with Josh and SGA running this backcourt.