Rookie guard Josh Giddey dazzles the MSG crowd with his third career triple-double.
Oklahoma City’s teenage, 6-foot-8 rookie guard is setting a new standard for young success.
The No. 6 overall pick of the 2021 Draft amassed a career-high 28 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists in the Thunder’s overtime win at New York on Monday. In the process, Giddey became the youngest player in NBA history to register consecutive triple-doubles after similarly filling the stat sheet Saturday in a narrow loss to Chicago.
Giddey’s performance was fitting in his Madison Square Garden debut. He became just the fourth player in league history to log a triple-double in his first appearance at New York’s famed arena.
“The style he is playing with is contagious,” Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said. “I think he has a domino effect on the team with how he plays when he is that state of mind. I thought he was in against Chicago and I thought he was in it again tonight.”
The Australian-born playmaker, who now owns the three youngest triple-doubles in league history, is averaging 12.0 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists on the season. He owns eight double-digit assists games, the third-most ever by a teenager behind only LeBron James (11) and Stephon Marbury (9).
"Obviously I had this game circled in my calendar."
Josh Giddey speaks on his historic night in the overtime win against the Knicks.@okcthunder | #ThunderUp | pic.twitter.com/SsAhlr5h68
— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) February 15, 2022
NBA triple-double history now reads…
Youngest: Josh Giddey
2nd Youngest: Josh Giddey
3rd Youngest: Josh GiddeyJosh Giddey has logged his second-straight triple-double, the third of his career. pic.twitter.com/3Z8HtoMLtb
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 15, 2022
Giddey’s first career triple-double came Jan.2 in a loss against Dallas, when he finished with 17 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
