Adelaide 36ers’ Josh Giddey earns major NBA buzz despite painful face plant

Australia’s next big NBA prospect has learned a painful lesson but it hasn’t stopped the superstar-in-waiting from putting his name up in lights.

The NBL could have another bona fide superstar on its hands as it’s taken just two games for the Adelaide 36ers’ Josh Giddey to be deemed a potential first round NBA draft pick.

The 18-year-old Melburnian has set the league alight in his first two games, scoring seven points, seven rebounds and four assists in a 24-point loss to Melbourne United, before a 16 point, 11 rebound and seven assist night in a double overtime win over South East Melbourne on Sunday.

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But while former Aussie NBA player and two-time NBL MVP Chris Anstey claimed Giddey was a “genuine NBA 1st round draft pick”, the youngster has copped an important lesson.

Having pulled off a steal in overtime after some lazy work with the ball from the Phoenix, Giddey ran away by himself and went up for the dunk, only to slide off the rim and fall in a heavy face plant.

This was Giddey’s steal and dunk to start OT. The fall was scary; face first.pic.twitter.com/quYR6iT26C

— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) January 17, 2021

Also... thank goodness Giddey was ok after this fall. The way he came down had shades of Bogut about it and could’ve been a whole lot worse. pic.twitter.com/blXvrieojD

— Liam Santamaria (@Liam_Santa) January 17, 2021

Lord, Josh Giddey. What a finish and a face plant! Glad he is ok. #NBL21 #SEMatADL

— Michael Randall (@MickRandallHS) January 17, 2021

While it proved to be little more than a blooper on the way to a victory for the young star, the result has put his name up high on the draft boards.

The win was Adelaide’s first ever double overtime win and Giddey became the second youngest player to record a double-double in the competition, missing the record by just four days.

Josh Giddey could be Australian basketball’s next NBA superstar.

The youngest player — Charlotte Hornets rookie LaMelo Ball, who was 18 years, three months and three days when he was setting the NBL alight for the Wollongong Hawks last season.

Ball eventually went number three in the draft and appears to be one of the leading contenders for the rookie of the year early in the NBA season after becoming the youngest ever player to score a triple-double.

Youngest players to record their first @NBL double-double

LaMelo Ball 18 years 3 months 3 days in 2019

Josh Giddey 18 years 3 months 7 days
**16pts, 11 rebs today for @Adelaide36ers

Nigel Purchase 18y,6m in 1984
Andrew Gaze 18y,7m in 1984
Sam Mackinnon 18y,9m in 1995#NBL21 pic.twitter.com/OLYuM1GET5

— NBLfacts (@nblfacts) January 17, 2021

Giddey is following in Ball’s footsteps as a member of the NBL Next Stars program, while allows players in the year before they nominate for the draft to play in the competition.

Having stacked on 10-12kg of muscle over the off-season, the 202cm point guard is making waves overseas.

Josh Giddey is a real talent.

In fact, NCA NewsWire reported that Adelaide general manager Jeff Van Gronigen had confirmed NBA clubs had been in touch about Giddey, who is the son of 449-game Melbourne Tigers veteran and two-time NBL championship winner Warrick and former WNBL player Kim.

“Josh is a special talent and equally terrific kid – I’m not sure the league has had a better 18-year-old in an awfully long time,” Van Groningen said about Giddey, who has also spent time with the NBA Global Academy in Canberra.

“His development has been strong over the past couple of months and as he has quickly adapted to the NBL’s size, speed and intensity.

“His (first two games) have been a demonstration of why he was a priority in the off-season to sign.”

He has some big names in his corner already as well with NBA star Joe Ingles and Anstey having his back.

Been saying for months that Josh Giddey is genuine NBA 1st round draft pick. He’s just getting his feet in the @NBL, wait until he gets comfortable..

— Chris Anstey (@ChrisAnstey13) January 17, 2021

Ball slightly ahead, but was developed a lot earlier than Giddey and had played professionally in Lithuania before he got to Australia.

— Chris Anstey (@ChrisAnstey13) January 17, 2021

Adelaide haven’t got a good look since Giddey went out the game. PUT HIM IN!!!

— Joe Ingles (@Joeingles7) January 17, 2021

🔥🔥🔥 @GiddeyJosh

— Joe Ingles (@Joeingles7) January 17, 2021

“Josh Giddey was an NBA player tonight.” - Tony Crocker tells the crowd after the game.

— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) January 17, 2021

The Bleacher Report’s lead NBA scout/draft writer Jonathan Wasserman even had Giddey in his top five players to move up the draft board.