Giddey’s $5m boost as ‘most complete player since LeBron’ goes No.1: NBA Draft Wrap
Aussie Josh Giddey was selected with the sixth overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder in a move that has shocked the NBA world. Read on for a full wrap of the first round.
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Aussie Josh Giddey was selected with the sixth overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder in a shock to begin the 2021 NBA Draft.
Giddey was widely tipped to go to either the Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies.
Instead he will join the Thunder and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Giddey averaged 10.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.4 assists and 1.1 steals for the Adelaider 36ers in the NBL last season and was branded the best passer in this year’s Draft.
He was also crowned the NBL Rookie of the Year after his breakout season and will now form a lethal combination with Gilgeous-Alexander at the rebuilding Thunder.
Giddey will pocket at least $5 million in his first year of the NBA after going in the top-10.
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That’s a surprising choice, but with the style of play the Thunder are developing, Giddey fits really well within the roster. The Thunder are huge on positional versatility and interchangeable roles.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) July 30, 2021
Josh Giddey Pick 6! Unreal, so crazy to see clips from the Entertainment Centre in an NBA draft
— Lucas Rinaldo (@LucasRinaldo7) July 30, 2021
This draft is wild so far. Love Josh Giddey as a prospect.
— James Ham (@James_HamNBCS) July 30, 2021
Earlier, the Detroit Pistons have selected Cade Cunningham with the first overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft.
Cunningham, a 19-year-old point guard, averaged 20.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.6 steals a game for Oklahoma State last season.
That was after helping spark a 2019 US triumph in the Under-19 Basketball World Cup.
He has drawn comparisons to Slovenian star Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks.
“I don’t like comparing myself to players around my age,” Cunningham said previously of the comparisons.
“I hear a lot of Luka comparisons, which, I can see it, but next year we’re going to be playing against each other.”
Cunningham sees himself in bigger NBA backcourt talents such as Jason Kidd, Penny Hardaway and Magic Johnson.
NBA Draft expert Mike Schmitz said: “Cade Cunningham is the clear-cut No. 1 pick and the best prospect”.
Kendrick Perkins branded him the “most complete player since LeBron James”.
Continue scrolling for the full list of first round picks!
Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets selected Jalen Green with the second overall pick.
Green, 19, was a shooting guard with Cunningham on the 2019 Under-19 world champions, averaging 10.1 points as the youngest member of the squad, who averaged 17.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.8 assists a game last season for the Ignite prospects team in the G-League, the NBA’s top development circuit.
The Cleveland Cavaliers were up next with the third pick and selected Evan Mobley.
Mobley, 20, is a 7-foot power forward who averaged 16.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists a game at the University of Southern California last season after a stint on the world under-19 champions from 2019.
Next on the clock were the Toronto Raptors and in a shock they selected Scottie Barnes.
The Raptors were expected to pick Jalen Suggs but instead opted for the Florida State point guard, who has the work ethic and attitude to be a valuable player at any franchise.
Perkins predicted the surprise pick will see Pasacal Siakam exit from Toronto, asking for a “moment of silence” on the ESPN broadcast.
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Siakam is expected to miss the start of the 2021-22 season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Most experts tipped the Orlando Magic to then pick Barnes with Toronto’s selection throwing a late curveball.
The Magic ended up drafting in Jalen Suggs with the fifth overall pick.
Suggs averaged 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists during his lone season at Gozanga.
Giddey then went next which meant the Golden State Warriors drafted in Jonathan Kuminga with the seventh pick.
The Orlando Magic were up again next and went for Franz Wagner, who boasts versatility on both ends of the court.
The Sacramento Kings had the ninth overall pick and went for Davion Mitchell from Baylor, who won all 3 National Defensive Player of the Year awards.
The final pick for the top-10 saw Stanford’s Ziaire Williams selected by the New Orleans Pelicans.
For all the remaining selections from the Draft check out the full list below.
FULL FIRST ROUND DRAFT ORDER
1. Detroit Pistons - Cade Cunningham
2. Houston Rockets - Jalen Green
3. Cleveland Cavaliers - Evan Mobley
4. Toronto Raptors - Scottie Barnes
5. Orlando Magic - Jalen Suggs
6. Oklahoma City Thunder - Josh Giddey
7. Golden State Warriors (from MIN) - Jonathan Kuminga
8. Orlando Magic (from CHI) - Franz Wagner
9. Sacramento Kings - Davion Mitchell
10. Memphis Grizzlies (via NOP) - Ziaire Williams
11. Charlotte Hornets - James Bouknight
12. San Antonio Spurs - Josh Primo
13. Indiana Pacers - Chris Duarte
14. Golden State Warriors - Moses Moody
15. Washington Wizards - Corey Kispert
16. Houston Rockets (from OKC via BOS) - Alperen Sengun
17. New Orleans Pelicans (via MEM) - Trey Murphy III
18. Oklahoma City Thunder (from MIA via LAC, PHI, PHX) - Tre Mann
19. Charlotte Hornets (from NYK) - Kai Jones
20. Atlanta Hawks - Jalen Johnson
21. Los Angeles Clippers (from NYK via DAL) - Keon Johnson
22. Washington Wizards (from LAL) - Isaiah Jackson (traded to Indiana)
23. Houston Rockets (from POR) - Usman Garuba
24. Houston Rockets (from MIL) - Josh Christopher
25. New York Knicks (from LAC) - Quentin Grimes
26. Denver Nuggets - Nah’Shon ‘Bones’ Hyland
27. Brooklyn Nets - Cameron Thomas
28. Philadelphia Sixers - Jaden Springer
29. Phoenix Suns - Day’Ron Sharpe
30. Utah Jazz - Santi Aldama
Originally published as Giddey’s $5m boost as ‘most complete player since LeBron’ goes No.1: NBA Draft Wrap
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