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Australian point guard Josh Giddey, who most recently played for the NBL’s Adelaide 36ers, was selected by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft Thursday at Barclays Center in New York City.
Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman’s Scouting Report
Player: Josh Giddey
Position: PG/SG
Height: 6’8″
Pro Comparison: Ricky Rubio
Scouting Report: An elite passer with 6’8″ size, Giddey has an easy time facilitating offense and setting up teammates. He isn’t the most explosive, but he gets to his spots and knows how to use his height and vision for playmaking.
Thunder Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)
Kemba Walker, PG: $35.2M (2024)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, PG: $4.2M (2022)
Gabriel Deck, F: $3.7M (2024)
Aleksej Pokusevski, PF: $3M (2024)
Darius Bazley, SF: $2.4M (2023)
Ty Jerome, PG: $2.3M (2023)
Theo Maledon, PG: $2M (2024)
Kenrich Williams, SF: $2M (2023)
Isaiah Roby, SF: $1.6M (2023)
Luguentz Dort, SG: $1.3M (2023)
Charlie Brown, Jr.: $860K (2022)
Tony Bradley, C: RFA
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, SG: RFA
Deonte Burton, SF: UFA
Jaylen Hoard, F: RFA
Josh Hall, SF: RFA
Giddey, who fits the emerging mold of taller ball-handlers at 6’8″, averaged 10.9 points, 7.6 assists, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals across 28 games during the 2020-21 season.
The 18-year-old guard’s work after joining the Thunder will begin with improving his offensive efficiency. He shot just 43 percent from the field, including 28 percent on threes, for the 36ers.
He’s likely a couple years away from making a high-end NBA impact, but his long-term potential is intriguing.
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