Adelaide 36ers land first signing in the post-Joey Wright era – Josh Giddey
The Adelaide 36ers have landed a massive first signing since the departure of coach Joey Wright, picking up teenage NBA prospect Josh Giddey.
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A teenage NBA prospect, who is the youngest Boomer since Ben Simmons, is Adelaide 36ers’ first recruit of the post Joey Wright-era.
Josh Giddey was on Thursday unveiled as a Sixers player, less than a month after following Philadelphia 76ers star Simmons in making his national team debut before his 18th birthday.
The 200cm guard joins the SA club as part of the NBL’s Next Stars program, having been touted as a potential first-round pick in next year’s NBA Draft.
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His arrival comes after a troubled past month for the 36ers, who dealt with a social media storm following coach Wright’s exit and a serious injury to gun import Jerome Randle.
Giddey, the son of 449-game NBL veteran Warrick Giddey, was looking forward to testing himself on the national stage.
“I’m thrilled to have signed my first professional contract with the Adelaide 36ers,” Giddey, 17, said.
“Obviously the NBA is my goal and I believe that playing in the NBL is the best pathway for me to get there.”
Giddey, who is currently based at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, grabbed 11 points in his maiden Boomers appearance against Hong Kong last month.
He is the first Australian player to be part of the Next Stars program, which contracts NBA draft eligible players and develops them in the NBL.
Sixers owner Grant Kelley welcomed the recruit following a testing period for the club.
“Josh is arguably the best young basketball talent in the nation and we’re thrilled for him to choose to start his professional career at the Adelaide 36ers,” Kelley said.
The Next Stars program has already produced Brian Bowen Jnr, who played for Sydney Kings in the 2018-19 NBL season, before joining NBA outfit Indiana Pacers.
LaMelo Ball (Illawarra Hawks) and RJ Hampton (New Zealand Breakers) are also tipped to be snapped up in the first round of this year’s NBA Draft.
Giddey’s signing comes on the back of a month to forget for the Sixers.
First co-captain Kevin White revealed on Twitter that ex-mentor Wright had suggested in a coaches’ WhatsApp group that four of his players should “hang themselves”.
White also alleged Wright, who departed the club two days earlier after seven years at the helm, had assaulted a player and the club had ignored it.
Wright apologised over the “private comments” on WhatsApp, but said they had been taken out of context.
Adelaide’s woes continued a fortnight ago, when gun guard Randle ruptured his ACL making his debut for Spanish side Fuenlabrada.
The Sixers had an option to extend the American’s second stint at the club for another season, but that now appears in doubt.