Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and other Oklahoma City Thunder players are sad to see Josh Giddey leave the team. Some players on the Thunder's roster took to social media to react to the news that Giddey was traded to Chicago. The posts were put together in a montage from the OKC Thunder Wire.
Gilgeous-Alexander posted three sad faces, when reacting to the news. Other Thunder players were even more vocal about the trade, including forward Jaylin Williams.
“Go do your thing 3,” Williams posted to social media, referring to Giddey's number with Oklahoma City.
Giddey and the Thunder
Giddey has played his entire career in Oklahoma City. He averaged 12 points per game this past season, with a 48 percent field-goal percentage. He appeared in 80 games this season, working his way consistently into the Thunder rotation. He also averaged 25 minutes per contest. Oklahoma City lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Playoffs.
The guard proved to be a solid defender in the league. He grabbed rebounds out of position, getting 7 boards a game. Giddey is from Australia who also played basketball for that country. He became the first NBA player to record a triple-double in less than 25 minutes in a game, with a 100 percent field-goal percentage. He has 11 career triple-doubles.
Giddey ran into legal trouble in 2023, when he was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with an underaged girl. No charges were filed following a law enforcement investigation. The NBA also probed the matter, but did not issue any disciplinary action. The league closed their investigation in May. Giddey didn't comment on the matter, but law enforcement did issue a statement after their probe ended.
“Our detectives have reviewed all of the available information and were unable to corroborate any criminal activity related to Mr. Giddey,” the Newport Beach Police Department in California said in a statement, per Fox Sports.
“The Newport Beach Police Department is committed to ensuring that accurate information is disseminated to the public, while also ensuring the rights of all those involved.”
Giddey is now getting a fresh start in Chicago. The Bulls traded Alex Caruso to Oklahoma City for the guard. Giddey is joining a Bulls backcourt with Coby White, who averaged 19 points this past season. Giddey should work into the rotation immediately. The Bulls finished the year with a 39-43 record. It was a disappointment, and the franchise is still searching for their first NBA Championship since Michael Jordan roamed the floor more than 25 years ago.
It is clear that Giddey will be missed by his Oklahoma City teammates. Time will tell which team has a better season next year. Giddey is a former first-round draft pick. He was selected by the Thunder with the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
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