NBA: Joe Ingles becomes latest Aussie basketballer to stun America

Josh Giddey has impressed American pundits so far this season but he’s not the only Aussie pulling off electrifying feats in the NBA.

Josh Ingles (left) is still making a big impact in the NBA.

Joe Ingles has become the latest Australian to dazzle America in the NBA this season.

The Utah Jazz forward played a starring role in the first half of his side’s clash with the Houston Rockets on Friday (AEDT) and seemed intent on ensuring the Jazz would go unbeaten through its first four matches of the regular season.

The Adelaide-born star led all scorers to halftime with 14 points from 13 minutes of game time. He shot from deep at 66.7 per cent accuracy in the first two quarters, also chalking up two assists and three rebounds.

Ingles was ably assisted by teammate Rudy Gobert, who had nine rebounds to go with his eight points.

The Aussie’s antics didn’t go unnoticed by NBA experts.

“Jazz are just getting great looks from all over: Joe Ingles has 14 and could honestly have 20 if he just shot every time he was open,” Utah Jazz beat reporter Andy Larsen said on Twitter.

Utah-based NBA writer Sarah Todd added that “Joe Ingles has it tonight”.

The Jazz’s momentum dipped late in the second quarter but the side still led the Rockets 61-40 at the halftime break.

Ingles also impressed on the world stage for the Boomers at this year’s Olympics.

GIDDEY AND THE KING

Aussie star Josh Giddey sits behind only NBA superstar LeBron James in the youngest players to notch 10 assists in a game as the blistering start to his NBA career continued against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Giddey’s jaw-dropping passing range was on full display as he also posted his first career double-double with 18 points, including two three-pointers in Oklahoma City Thunder’s stunning 123-115 victory over King James’ team.

James holds the record as the youngest player to dish out 10 assists in a game at 18 years and 355 days and is also the second youngest having done it twice.

Giddey achieved the feat only 17 days after his 19th birthday and in just his fifth NBA game.

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The Australian young gun thread the needle on multiple occasions with spectacular assists that had Thunder fans in the Paycom Center out of their seats as he took the fight to the 17-time NBA champions.

It was also Giddey’s second-highest points tally since making his NBA debut this season, with his season-best the 19 points he scored against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Thunder couldn’t have got off to a worse start as the Lakers ran riot in the first quarter and raced out to a 41-19 lead.

However, Giddey played a starring role as the Thunder mounted a monumental 26-point comeback in the second and third quarters as they held on for their first win of the season.

The NBA world continued their love affair with the Aussie and raved about his incredible performance.

Josh Giddey can put together a highlight reel of passes from this second quarter alone. My goodness.

— Joe Mussatto (@joe_mussatto) October 28, 2021

Death, Taxes and Josh Giddey floaters

— Derek Parker (@DParkOK) October 28, 2021

For the Lakers, a strong showing from star duo Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook ultimately wasn’t enough to earn their third win of the season. LeBron James sat out for the second straight game with an ankle injury.

Davis scored 30 points and Westbrook posted his first triple-double of the season as the Lakers fell to a 2-3 record.

Patty Mills was unable to build on his stellar showing for the Brooklyn Nets earlier in the week as the Eastern Conference heavyweights slumped to a 106-93 defeat to the Miami Heat.

Mills had a horror shooting day, only making one bucket from 15 attempts to add to his two successful attempts from the charity stripe.

While it may have been doom and gloom on the court for Mills, that certainly was not the case off it.

The Boomers captain was announced as one of four nominees for the ACT Australian of the Year award.

Mills was nominated as a result of his spectacular work with Indigenous basketball, including launching the Indigenous Basketball League earlier this year.

The Canberra native also was Australia’s first Indigenous Australian flag bearer at the Tokyo Olympics.

Patty Mills struggled for the Brooklyn Nets in their defeat to the Heat. Picture: Sarah Stier/Getty Images

Originally published as NBA: Joe Ingles becomes latest Aussie basketballer to stun America