NBA 2022: Josh Giddey snubbed in Rookie of the Year award, OKC Thunder star misses the cut

Josh Giddey created history in his debut NBA season with the OKC Thunder, but he was a surprise omission from the finalists for the Rookie of the Year award. Find out why.

Australian NBA star Josh Giddey could have claimed the Rookie of the Year award if he didn’t get injured at the back end of his maiden season.

That’s the view of Aussie hoops royalty Andrew Gaze, who believes Giddey was on track to be in the conversation to collect the rookie’s top award until he suffered a hip injury.

The Melbourne-born guard failed to finish his first NBA season with the Oklahoma City Thunder due to hip soreness.

Watch Live Coverage of The 2022 NBA Playoffs with ESPN on Kayo including every game of The Conference Finals and The Finals. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Giddey missed the final three-and-a-half weeks of the regular season, prompting judges not to select him as one of the three finalists for Rookie of the Year.

Evan Mobley (Cleveland), Scottie Barnes (Toronto), and Cade Cunningham (Detroit) received the nod, which sparked question marks given Giddey collected four straight Western Conference Player of the Year awards this season.

Josh Giddey enjoyed a stellar rookie NBA season with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Picture: Mark Blinch/Getty Images

Gaze believes injury played a major role in the rising Boomers star not being rookie finalist.

“If Josh had continued on the path he was on, I think he definitely would have been in the top three finalists and in the conversation to win the Rookie award,” Gaze said about Giddey, who is in Australia completing a series of coaching clinics and fundraising nights in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney.

“In the end he got injured and that is what hurt him.

“We are biased because we’d love to see Josh in there, but he missed so many games at the back end of the season and you look at the three finalists and say: who is going to miss out?

“I think Josh is next in line behind those guys. He has been outstanding, but so have those guys as well.”

Injury aside, Giddey enjoyed a stellar rookie NBA season.

Josh Giddey is back in Australia to host basketball clinics in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Picture: Keryn Stevens

He was the youngest player to record a triple-double while he also logged a double-double without scoring a point, the first time that has happened in the NBA since 1971.

You can’t deny Giddey’s success, but he also plays for a small market and rebuilding team in Oklahoma City.

Gaze has no doubts this plays a significant role in the exposure the Aussie receives compared to bigger teams.

“Absolutely and there is no doubt about that,” he said.

“He hasn’t had the same level of recognition, or they haven’t seen him as much.

“The other thing that hurt him was that the Thunder didn’t do that well.

“There are pros and cons to that because Josh was also able to develop on a team where there wasn’t as much pressure to perform.”

Fair to say Josh Giddey is a touch more popular than when he left Adelaide less than a year ago!

Hear from the 36er-turned-NBA star on @9NewsAdel tonight. pic.twitter.com/8sGyCjwlGL

— Josh Money (@joshmoney__) April 19, 2022

Oklahoma City finished second last in the Western Conference with a 24-win and 58-loss season. Despite their lack of success, the Thunder showed faith in Giddey to steer the team around from point guard.

Gaze expects Giddey to continue his rise again next season, especially if he can improve his shooting and defence.

“Josh needs to work on creating his own shot and then consistently knocking down the three ball,” Gaze said about Giddey, who averaged 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.4 assists in his rookie season.

“The other one is defence and guarding some of the NBA’s athletic players, which will come with experience as his body develops.

“Josh is a big part of the Thunder’s future.

“They gave him a lot of time on the court. I don’t think he would have had the same opportunities on a team in the playoff mix.”