NBA wrap: Josh Giddey’s passing game continues to stun America

One part of Josh Giddey’s game is making him particularly popular with American basketball pundits.

Josh Giddey is continuing to blow America away.

The Aussie Oklahoma City Thunder guard, who only turned 19 last month, is winning pundits over for his superior vision and passing game, which were both on full show against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday afternoon (AEDT).

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Giddey registered the most assists of any player in the Thunder’s last-gasp 105-103 win – five of OKC’s 13 assists belonged to the former Adelaide 36er.

Josh Giddey's vision is on a whole other level. (via @okcthunder) pic.twitter.com/2lCBVyZpIT

— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 13, 2021

Giddey wasn’t at his influential best in the fourth quarter, but the Thunder still managed to come from behind at the death, with small forward Luguentz Dort scoring from a steal in the dying seconds to secure victory.

The loss is the fourth in a row for the Kings, who led the NBA’s youngest team by as many as 18 points midway through the third quarter.

Things could’ve been very different though, had Giddey not once again been on the ball.

What a pass by Giddey on the dime to Dort. Advanced level court vision.

— Cliff Brunt (@CliffBruntAP) November 13, 2021

Josh Giddey is so good at anticipating where players are going to be with his passes

— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) November 13, 2021

Giddey dime to Dort

— Derek Parker (@DParkOK) November 13, 2021

GIDDEY FLIRTS WITH HISTORY

Josh Giddey was just a whisker away from making NBA history as the youngest player to notch a triple-double as the Aussie yet again played a pivotal role in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 108-100 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. The 19-year-old led the team with 12 rebounds and nine assists as well as posting seven points throughout his 31 minutes on the court, but ultimately he couldn’t beat former Illawarra Hawks star LaMelo Ball’s record.

The combined total of 21 rebounds and assists beat Giddey’s previous NBA record of 16, which he achieved against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Giddey’s insane passing range was on full display yet again, including the Melburnian producing a delicious no-look pass to teammate Luguentz Dort.

The victory over the Pelicans was the Thunder’s third on the bounce to improve their record to 4-6, and Giddey believes the best is yet to come.

“As a young group, we’re headed in the right direction,” Giddey told reporters after the match.

“I think we can shock and change people’s perspectives.”

Despite Giddey’s close brush with NBA history, Thunder coach Mark Daigneault felt it wasn’t at all close to what the Aussie is capable of.

“I say this as a compliment to Josh, but I think tonight was closer to his floor than his ceiling,” Daigneault said post-game.

I didn’t think he played great for what he’s capable of, and yet he was very impactful.”

naur look pass 🤯@joshgiddey ➡️ @luthebeastpic.twitter.com/eaRkPrMAQ6

— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) November 11, 2021

Forget being the best passer in this rookie class.

Josh Giddey is one of the best passers in the NBA already.

— Nick Crain (@CrainNBA) November 11, 2021

There's not another passer even remotely close to Josh Giddey in the 2021 Draft class.

— Derek Parker (@DParkOK) November 11, 2021

Lol how did Josh Giddey perfectly pop that pass up to Favors? Being that skilled at basketball must be incredibly fun.

— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) November 11, 2021

Fellow Aussie Patty Mills also tasted success with his team as the Brooklyn Nets ran out 33-point victors over the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center in Florida.

Mills spent 20 minutes on the hardwood and scored six points along with two rebounds and three assists, although he may rue what could have been as he made two shots from 15 attempts throughout the game.

Superstars James Harden and Kevin Durant ran the show for the Nets, with Harden posting a triple-double and Durant scoring 30 points.

The NBA’s health and safety protocols ruled Aussie San Antonio Spurs centre Jock Landale out of his side’s clash with the Sacramento Kings on Thursday afternoon (AEDT).

“It’s really tough for him,” said Spurs president and head coach Gregg Popovich.

“He was just starting to play in three-on-three (at practice) and get his legs back and all that and then this happens.”

Landale scored his first-ever NBA contract on the back of impressive NBL and Olympic campaigns. (Photos by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images)

Popovich said he was unsure when Landale and teammate Jakob Poeltl would clear the league’s health and safety protocols and return to the fray.

“When they are done, they are done. I don’t know when that is,” Popovich said.

In order to come back into the side, Landale will need to either wait a minimum ten days or return two consecutive negative PCR tests 24 hours apart. He is therefore unlikely to be available for selection in the Spurs’ next game against the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday afternoon (AEDT).

So far, Landale has played four games of the 2021/22 regular season for an average of 2.7 minutes of gametime.

Originally published as NBA wrap: Josh Giddey’s passing game continues to stun America