Aussie NBA phenomenon Josh Giddey gets RIPPED OFF as he’s snubbed by NBA All-Rookie team despite record-breaking season that saw him better LeBron James – and he’s not happy about it
- Giddey beat a record once owned by LeBron James in his stellar rookie season
- The 19-year-old amazed fans with his run of triple-doubles before being injured
- Aussie could only make the NBA’s second-string All-Rookie team for 2021-22
Josh Giddey had about the best season an NBA debutant could hope for, playing so well he broke a record once held by Lakers megastar LeBron James – but it wasn’t good enough for the voters who selected the league’s all-rookie team.
On Thursday the 19-year-old failed to make the NBA’s first-string side and responded to the snub by posting a pair of laughing emojis on Twitter.
He was beaten out for the top honour by Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Green and Franz Wagner despite having a historically great debut at the pinnacle of basketball.
Giddey broke the record for youngest NBA player to score a triple-double – a mark once held by LeBron James – as he reeled off a historically great debut season
At just 19 the Melbourne-born point guard became the first rookie to record three straight triple-doubles since 1961
The Oklahoma City Thunder point guard became the youngest NBA player to record a triple-double, and the first rookie to notch three straight triple-doubles since Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson achieved the feat in 1961.
LeBron James once held the youngest triple double record. He, Giddey and LaMelo Ball are now the only NBA players to rack up 100 assists and 100 rebounds in their first 20 games.
Giddey also became the youngest player since James to score 500 points and record 200 assists and 200 rebounds in his first 45 games in the league.
The Melbourne-born sensation was on such a great run prior to picking up a season-ending hip injury in February that James singled him out for some very high praise.
‘He’s really, really, really good. He has a great pace about the game, great vision,’ James said.
‘I’ve always loved pass-first guards who can see plays happen before they happen, and Josh is one of those kids who can definitely see the game a lot quicker than a lot of guys out on the floor.
‘He’s got three straight triple-doubles. He’s playing beautiful basketball.’
But not beautiful enough for the voters.
LeBron James couldn’t praise Giddey enough after seeing his star turns for the Oklahoma City Thunder, saying he was playing ‘beautiful basketball’
Giddey (pictured at a youth basketball camp in Queensland this month) could have taken out the Rookie of the Year title if it wasn’t for an injury that ended his season early
Giddey was relegated to the second all-rookie team with Ayo Dosunmu, Chris Duarte, Bones Hyland and Herbert Jones.
No doubt thanks to his injury layoff, Giddey didn’t record a single vote for Rookie of the Year – an award he could well have taken out if he’d stayed on the court.
‘It was disappointing … it did suck to see but we moved forward and now I’m excited for year number two,’ he told Fox Sports.
The Thunder didn’t say Giddey was snubbed when they put out a statement about him being selected for the second team, deciding to reel off his incredible achievements instead.
‘Giddey was the only rookie this season to register at least 650 points, 400 rebounds and 300 assists and is the fourth-fastest rookie in NBA history to reach those numbers, doing so in only 53 games,’ the statement read.
‘Giddey owns the top-four youngest triple-doubles in NBA history. His four triple-doubles tied Jason Kidd for the sixth-most triple-doubles by a rookie in NBA history.’