Australian NBA rookie Josh Giddey sets another record in stunning first season

The records keep piling up for Aussie NBA whiz kid Josh Giddey, whose latest effort bettered that of a former MVP and All-Star.

Josh Giddey has set a new record in the NBA. Picture: Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP

Josh Giddey has gone and done it again and set another record as his march through a stunning rookie NBA season continues.

Called on to step up for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the absence of injured star Shae Gilgeous-Alexander, the 19-year-old set a new franchise record for double-doubles midway through the final quarter against Portland.

Giddey’s 11th double-double for the season broke the previous OKC high bar set by former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook, who registered 10 in his first season.

The young Victorian star was pivotal too in his team’s second-half surge that helped them rally to take down the Trailblazers.

Giddey finished with 14 points and a team-high 12 rebounds in the 98-81 win.

It was the first win in six games for the Thunder this season without leading scorer Gilgeous-Alexander, who will be out until at least after the All-Star break after he suffered a right ankle sprain last week.

The last time Gilgeous-Alexander was out for OKC, on January 2 against Dallas, Giddey became the youngest player in NBA history to register a triple-double, with 17 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds.

Josh Giddey has set the Thunder rookie record for most double-doubles in a season with 11 📊 pic.twitter.com/91UG7dTw8o

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) February 1, 2022

Most double-doubles by a rookie in OKC history:

11 — Josh Giddey
10 — Russell Westbrook pic.twitter.com/m03c2Zh3HQ

— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 1, 2022

Josh Giddey. Rookie. Record Setter.@joshgiddey now holds the record for the most double-doubles in franchise history!@okcthunder | #ThunderUppic.twitter.com/Iu2hLSZgQi

— Bally Sports Oklahoma (@BallySportsOK) February 1, 2022

With the expectation Giddey would have to step up, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault tried to make sure his players didn’t try too hard.

“The slippery slope you can get into is thinking that everybody has to do more because you’re missing a player,” Daigneault said.

“There’s gonna be more opportunities, there’s gonna be more minutes, there’s gonna be more touches, but the actual way that everybody’s playing, we’re not changing the messaging on that at all.”

Despite the win and Giddey’s outstanding rookie season, the Thunder remains in the bottom four for wins across the NBA this year.

Originally published as Australian NBA rookie Josh Giddey sets another record in stunning first season