Josh Giddey responds to praise from NBA Legends

The Oklahoma City Thunder have had a surprising season to this point, and one of many bright spots has been the December stretch of second-year guard Josh Giddey. The Sophomore capped off the best month of his career on Saturday and yet again received praise from NBA legends pregame.

The OKC Thunder sit at 15-21 as the team opens up 2023, and Josh Giddey is averaging 15 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and nearly a steal per game on 46 percent shooting from the floor and 32 percent shooting from three-point land which represents a six percent increase from his rookie year.

The Oklahoma City Thunder have seen their key second-year guard, Josh Giddey, receive high praise from NBA legends Doc Rivers and Chauncey Billups over the last week. The former NBL star sounds off on the praise

Josh Giddey has improved his rim-finishing by six percent, the same mark as his three-point shooting, while also shooting 50 percent from the corner three according to cleaning the glass. The Thunder guard averages 10.1 potential assists a game, only behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (11.4) on the team.

When the Portland Trail Blazers came to town, head coach and NBA Champion Chauncey Billups told me “I really like [Josh Giddey], he has an incredible feel. He plays the game very easy, when the guys are open he passes to them, two people there he passes to the open guy and kicks the ball up the floor. Makes the game easy for you and everybody else. He always has his head up when he drives the ball. He is a big guy so he gets to his spots to shoot it. He plays with a confidence that I really like, he is always thinking the game. I think he will be an excellent point guard.”

Then on Saturday, Doc Rivers praised the “flare” that Josh Giddey plays with before going on to explain how Giddey playing in Summer League last July really jumped out to the NBA Champion coach and former NBA point guard.

After the game on Saturday, I asked Josh Giddey what it is like to hear these former NBA players and icons discuss his game in such high regard, the young point guard said “It means a lot any time one of the greats like Doc [Rivers] Chauncey [Billups] compliments you, that means a lot. They have seen a lot, they have seen it all, a lot of players come through. You always appreciate as a player the kind words of those who have been before you. It is awesome to hear that, those kinds of things.”

Josh Giddey is well on his way to being a great player in this league, and with his work ethic and respect for the game, the 20-year-old guard has a bright future.