The Oklahoma City Thunder await the return of their star rookie point guard Josh Giddey. Selected with the sixth pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, Giddey is off to a phenomenal start for his career. The OKC Thunder rookie has turned in four triple-doubles, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record one, and seen his name in the same conversation as some of the best to ever play in this league. Josh Giddey, has taken home the Western Conference Rookie of the Month awards all season, sweeping the category to this point.
However, his ability to continue his streak, and win the March award, is in jeopardy with the news from Mark Daigneault following Saturday’s practice. Giddey, who has not played since late February with hip soreness, will be out at least “a couple of more weeks” with this hip injury.
Josh Giddey is set to miss a couple of more weeks with his hip injury according to Mark Daigneault, potentially ending his rookie of the month streak
The Oklahoma City Thunder have seen Shai Gilgeous-Alexander come back from an ankle injury that held him out for a month on a rampage of 30-plus point games, but their max contract guard only got to spend one game with the prized rookie before Josh Giddey’s hip injury. That duo was the biggest storyline to follow along over these last 20 something games for the Oklahoma City Thunder who are closer to the worst record in the league than a playoff spot.
We have only seen that duo play less than 2,000 possessions together. Separately, they have both had incredible stretches with Josh Giddey posting three straight triple-doubles before the All-Star Break, four total, and outdoing every other Western Conference Rookie all season. Since returning from injury after the NBA All-Star Break, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has posted 33 points, five rebounds, six assists, a steal, and nearly a block per game on 58-percent shooting from the floor, and 42-percent from three in this five-game span.
The burning question for OKC Thunder fans is what do they look like together? While Bricktown will enjoy the duo for years to come, fans are focused on the here and now. Mark Daigneault did say the team does hope Josh Giddey plays again this season, after his reevaluation date there would be two more weeks in the season.