Andrew Gaze’s warning for Australian young gun Josh Giddey

Andrew Gaze believes the Oklahoma City Thunder is the “perfect” franchise for Aussie teen Josh Giddey to start his NBA career.

TULSA, OK – OCTOBER 14: Josh Giddey #3 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives to the basket against the Denver Nuggets during a pre-season game on October 14, 2021 at BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

Australian basketball great Andrew Gaze believes the Oklahoma City Thunder is the “perfect” franchise for Aussie young gun Josh Giddey at this stage of his NBA career, but warned the club would probably finish last in the Western Conference.

The Thunder selected Giddey with Pick 6 of the 2021 NBA draft, and the 19-year-old has since featured in all four games of the pre-season.

Watch the 21/22 NBA Season with ESPN on Kayo. Live coverage every week plus every game of the NBA Finals. New to Kayo? Start your free trial >

The Aussie rookie come agonisingly close to notching the first triple double of his NBA career against the Denver Nuggets last week.

Giddey finished the contest with 13 points, nine rebounds and eight assists to his name and conceded just three turnovers from 28 minutes’ game time.

His mighty effort wasn’t enough to seal back-to-back wins for the Thunder, who went down 113-107 in overtime.

Across four hit-outs in the pre-season, of which the Thunder won just one, Giddey averaged 13.5 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

The former Adelaide 36ers guard also shot from the field with 52.3 per cent accuracy and sunk triples at a 40 per cent success rate.

But speaking on SEN Breakfast with Garry & Tim, Gaze warned basketball pundits not to take too much notice of Giddey’s pre-season performances.

“You’ve got to have context,” Gaze explained on Monday. “With Josh Giddey, you look at their team, and it is predicted by most to probably finish last in the whole competition.

“They’re a very young team, they’re building for the future, they’re got some ridiculous amount of first-round draft picks over the next three or four years.

“What we saw in the pre-season, unlike the other teams, they don’t have the bona fide megastars.

“This is perfect for Josh, because he’s going to get plenty of time to play — we saw in the pre-season they’re going to put the ball in his hands a lot — and he’s going to have a chance to really accelerate his learning and the way in which he can contribute.”

Josh Giddey has caught the attention of plenty of American basketball fans. Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images

Despite his recent success, Giddey believes he still has a long way to go before achieving his full potential at NBA level.

“It’s tough as a young kid coming into the NBA,” he said after the third game of the pre-season.

“With the athletes and the size there is, it takes time. It’s not going to be perfect right away and I’ve learned that.”

Days ahead of his NBA debut, Giddey revealed he idolises countryman Ben Simmons and would love to play alongside him for the Boomers.

“Ben’s an All-Star,” he told Channel 9.

“He’s young. He’s been a multiple All-Star, he’s a max contract player.

“I’ve looked up to him for a long time. I went to his basketball camps, like, four years ago.

“You know he’s a superstar and hopefully one day me and him can team up, you know, when it’s the Olympic Games or World Cup or something, in the Australian jersey.”

Giddey will play in front of the Oklahoma City home crowd for the first time in the regular season when the Thunder meets the Philadelphia 76ers next Monday (AEDT).

— with Jasper Bruce, NCA NewsWire