'Absolutely surgical': Josh Giddey blows NBA away with latest record
Australian NBA rookie Josh Giddey has continued his stellar debut season for the Oklahoma City Thunder, dropping a career-high 28 points in a triple-double to beat the New York Knicks in overtime.
The 19-year-old burst out of the gates and impacted the game throughout in OKC's 127-123 win over the Knicks, which came in Giddey's first game in Madison Square Garden.
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His triple double of 28 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists saw him join some elite company as the only players in NBA history to record such a stat line in their debut at the Garden.
Giddey joined Los Angeles Lakers legends Magic Johnson and Wilt Chamberlain, as well as 1897 Rookie of the Year Chuck Person, as the only players to accomplish such a feat.
The Australian guard's second triple-double in a row also saw him become the youngest player in league history to record such a box score in two straight games, adding to the array of records Giddey has already amassed this season.
Speaking after the game, Giddey said he'd been eyeing off his debut in New York for some time.
“Obviously I had this game circled on my calendar, coming to New York,” Giddey said.
“(The) Most famous stadium in the world, so I was looking forward to this game.”
In addition to setting a new career scoring benchmark, Giddey's 12 assists proved crucial as the Thunder came back from a second half deficit to record a confidence-boosting win on the road.
NBA fans were mesmerised by Giddey's impressive display.
Thunder rookie PG Josh Giddey with some absolutely surgical deliveries during his 28-point, 12-assist, 11-rebound performance in an OT win over the Knicks in MSG. Already an elite off the dribble passer. Accuracy on his corner hits is high level. So patient in the pocket. pic.twitter.com/1yewBEYimm
— Mike Schmitz (@Mike_Schmitz) February 15, 2022
Josh Giddey and Tre Mann are the only pair of rookies in the past decade to both score 28+ points in the same game.
Thunder future 🔥— Brandon Rahbar (@BrandonRahbar) February 15, 2022
Only a rookie and putting up these numbers. Giddey's future is scary. https://t.co/afm5wHShMW
— Joshua Mayne (@JoshuaMMayne) February 15, 2022
Giddey has game!! https://t.co/zzY42YxmYB
— kuz (@kylekuzma) February 15, 2022
What a performance by Josh Giddey — a 19-year-old rookie and the second youngest player in the NBA by the way — in his first trip to MSG: 28 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists. Only the fourth player ever to record a triple-double in his first game at the Garden.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) February 15, 2022
Every NBA star openly places emphasis on putting on a show at Madison Square Garden. Josh Giddey just put up 28 points (career-high), 11 rebounds and 12 assists in an OT win in his MSG debut. This will be a performance to remember as he continues to pile on the accolades.
— Kane Pitman (@KanePitman) February 15, 2022
With their top two scorers in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort sidelined with injuries, Giddey's assist helped fellow rookie Tre Mann (30 points) to a career night of his own.
Darius Bazely's 14 third-quarter points helped get the Thunder back in the contest after the fell behind by double digits, with Giddey making sure to praise his teammate for cashing in some passes.
“Baz is awesome,” Giddey said.
“I said the other night, he guards one through five, he switches from point guards to centres.
“He’s really versatile on that end Offensively, he’s improving every game.
“You can see it from watching him. The work he puts in at practice... big fan of his game and he’s been big for us all year.”
Giddey's star on the rise in sensational NBA rookie season
Giddey was not the only Australian on show in New York on Monday night with Ben Simmons watching from the bench as the Brooklyn Nets notched up a home win to end an 11-game slide.
While Simmons — who has sat out the entire season at Philadelphia before his blockbuster trade to the Nets — is not expected to play until after the All-Star weekend, Giddey has starred for OKC since his return from COVID-19 late last year.
He is now the youngest, second youngest and third youngest player to have an NBA triple-double.
Giddey, the sixth overall in last year's draft, shot 11 for 22 from the field and hit three 3-pointers for the Thunder, who snapped a five-game losing streak.
While OKC are second bottom in the western conference, Giddey's performances have him among the favourites for the rookie of the year award.
The process of integrating Simmons into the Nets' system has started.
The 25-year-old "did his assessments" with the team during morning shoot-around, coach Steve Nash said before the game.
"There's been a long period of non-NBA activity," Nash said.
"We'll see how they put his program together and how long it takes."
On the court, Seth Curry scored 23 points to lead Brooklyn to a 109-85 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
With AAP
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