NBA: Aussie teen superstar Josh Giddey sets new personal best against Sacramento Kings

Josh Giddey recorded a new NBA career-best haul of points on Sunday (AEDT) but his efforts weren’t enough to seal victory for the Thunder.

On Sunday, Giddey scored more points than ever before. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Aussie NBA wunderkind Josh Giddey is continuing to outdo himself on the world’s biggest stage, setting a new personal-best for points in a game during the Oklahoma Thunder’s loss to the Sacramento Kings.

Since being selected by the Thunder with pick six of last year’s draft, Giddey has won praise from pundits worldwide for his basketball IQ, knack for pulling down rebounds and sharp passing game.

But on Sunday afternoon (AEDT), he impressed on the scoreboard with an NBA career-best and equal-game high 24 points from 19 shots.

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The three-time Western Conference Rookie Of The Month stepped up in the absence of regular starters Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort, who missed the 113-103 loss with ankle and facial injuries, respectively.

Giddey handled the extra workload with aplomb, also managing eight assists and four rebounds from his 38 minutes on the floor.

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised Giddey’s “mindset” post-game.

“He might not get 19 shots when we’re at full tilt but that mindset is the mindset he needs to play with,” he said.

Basketball pundits applauded Giddey’s efforts as well.

Giddey finishes with 24-8-4 and carried the OKC offense without Dort and SGA.

Kid is beyond his years.

— Nick Crain (@CrainNBA) February 6, 2022

Josh Giddey has the floater working tonight.

— Joe Mussatto (@joe_mussatto) February 6, 2022

Giddey in action against the Kings. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Playing its fourth game in six nights and hoping to string together a fourth consecutive victory, the undermanned Thunder couldn’t go the distance with the Kings.

Sacramento led for all but 30 seconds of the contest and kept the Thunder at arm’s length in the final period to seal the result.

“It was a good fight, we played hard all game, played physical. But when we get that lead, we’ve got to not take our foot off the gas,” Giddey said post-game.

Thunder fans will hope Giddey can help the side return to the winners circle against the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday afternoon (AEDT).

It’s been a scintillating start to 2022 for Giddey, who was named Western Conference Rookie Of The Month for January and is set to participate in the Rising Stars mini-tournament on All-Stars Weekend later this month.

Giddey has also made a business of breaking records — he is the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double and has scored more double-doubles in his rookie season than any Thunder player before him.

Originally published as NBA: Aussie teen superstar Josh Giddey sets new personal best against Sacramento Kings