'Incredible': NBA world loses it over Josh Giddey's 61-year first
Australia's teenage phenomenon Josh Giddey has left basketball fans stunned after becoming just the second rookie in NBA history to record three consecutive triple-doubles.
Giddey's extraordinary debut season continued as the Aussie recorded 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in Oklahoma's 114-106 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
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Not since Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson recorded three straight triple-doubles in the 1960-61 NBA season, has a rookie been able to emulate the amazing feat.
That is until now.
Giddey had already broken a bunch of records after dropping a career-high 28 points in his triple-double against the New York Knicks earlier in the week.
But the 19-year-old joined an exclusive club by putting up the stat line for the fourth time in his debut season.
Only two other players have recorded four triple-doubles as an NBA rookie - fellow Aussie Ben Simmons and Luka Doncic.
Josh Giddey to Poku alley-oop! pic.twitter.com/atBq49uaMc
— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) February 17, 2022
Giddey has now played nine games in which he's recorded 10-plus assists in his rookie season - trailing only LeBron James whose record stands at 11.
“Sometimes, the passes you see Josh Giddey throws, it takes you in and out of Magic Johnson thoughts,” Thunder broadcaster Michael Cage said about the Aussie's latest display.
“He’s just making the game look easy at times because he knows how to play it. He’s already got three triple-doubles in the season and again he’s one rebound away from another.
“He’s playing with a whole lot of confidence.”
Fellow OKC commentator Chris Fisher added: “Just a dazzling display".
“So much control, so much poise despite being the second-youngest player in the NBA.”
The Aussie's incredible feat lit up social media as NBA fans praised the young Thunder superstar.
Josh Giddey has logged his third-straight triple-double.
He joins Oscar Robertson as the only rookies in NBA history to record three-straight triple-doubles. pic.twitter.com/ASOQb5ndC0— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 17, 2022
Can we take a moment to appreciate how incredible this is? I mean, @joshgiddey is such a unique talent. He really has far exceeded anyone’s expectations for how good he could be this quickly … except maybe his own! pic.twitter.com/guI5AT2AZN
— Tom Hersz (@tomhersz) February 17, 2022
Then➡️now
Massive congratulations to @joshgiddey who just scored his third straight triple-double for @okcthunder ⭐ #WeAreSixers pic.twitter.com/bGMgOJ27y0— Adelaide 36ers (@Adelaide36ers) February 17, 2022
Josh Giddey does it again.
17 points
10 rebounds
10 assists
Another Triple double for the rookie 🔥 pic.twitter.com/qRKA6VjJeu— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) February 17, 2022
Considering Oklahoma City only has three remaining games this month, I’d go ahead and consider Josh Giddey a lock for once again winning Western Conference Rookie of the Month.
He’s playing the best basketball of his young career right now.— Nick Crain (@CrainNBA) February 17, 2022
Players with three consecutive triple doubles in their rookie season:
Oscar Robertson
Josh Giddey— 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒆 🌩 (@Three_Cone) February 17, 2022
Giddey, Giddey, Giddey (Oi, Oi, Oi)
Make that three straight triple-doubles for the kid from Down Under, as @joshgiddey becomes the second-ever rookie and first-ever Aussie to accomplish that feat*
Yep, the Next Star is now a bona fide STAR ⭐️ #NBLxNBA pic.twitter.com/nbeAfYQSC2— The NBL (@NBL) February 17, 2022
I’m sorry but Josh Giddey stock is just through the roof rn.
Should’ve invested early!— Thunder Film Room (@ThunderFilmRoom) February 17, 2022
It's a bird...it's a plane....it's JOSH GIDDEY WITH ANOTHER TRIPLE DOUBLE!!!
First rookie in 50 years to score 3 straight triple-doubles 🤯#NBA pic.twitter.com/1TTi9sgTUb— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) February 17, 2022
Ben Simmons' Nets win NY grudge match
Meanwhile, Ben Simmons watched from the bench as two ex-Philadelphia teammates helped the Brooklyn Nets rally from 28 points down to stun the Knicks 111-106 in their New York derby clash.
The Nets were playing without their three All Stars, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and the newly-acquired Simmons at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night, but again showed heartening signs of a season revival.
Seth Curry and Andre Drummond - players who came from the 76ers as part of last week's Simmons-James Harden trade - played leading roles. Sharpshooter Curry scored 20 points and Drummond had 20 rebounds.
But rookie Cam Thomas led the way for Brooklyn, scoring 16 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter.
He sparked a 15-0 run in the fourth that gave Brooklyn their first lead of the game with just under four minutes remaining and hit a deep 3-pointer to clinch it with 6.8 records remaining, a shot that had Durant dancing far off the bench in delight.
It was a second consecutive win for the Nets (31-27) who had lost 11 straight before that and slipped to eighth in the eastern conference in Durant's injury absence.
Coach Steve Nash said the Nets hadn't gauged yet where Simmons' conditioning was, focused more on planning the buildup to his eventual debut after sitting out all season before he was traded last Thursday.
Nash downplayed the chances of Durant, who missed his 16th straight game with a sprained left knee ligament, being ready to return when the Nets return from the All-Star break on February 24.
Julius Randle had 31 points and 10 rebounds in perhaps the most embarrassing loss of a disappointing season for the Knicks who stumble into the All-Star break at 25-34 a year after making the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
with AAP
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