NBA commissioner Adam Silver breaks silence on Josh Giddey investigation

The NBA’s commissioner has broken his silence on the league’s investigation into Josh Giddey as the Aussie star continues to play for the Thunder.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver has broken his silence on the league’s investigation into Josh Giddey amid allegations the Aussie star had an inappropriate relationship with a minor two years ago.

The OKC Thunder guard is currently under investigation by both the Newport Beach Police Department in California and the NBA over the allegations which first emerged in late November via an anonymous social media post.

Giddey, 21, has since been routinely booed by fans while appearing in every game for the Thunder since the drama erupted – with many questioning why he is being allowed to continue playing with serious allegations hanging over him.

Silver was probed about the situation during an interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews on Saturday (AEDT), and explained the NBA’s investigation into Giddey has had to take a back seat while police are involved.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver welcomes Aussie draftee Josh Giddey into the NBA at the 2021 Draft.

“I think you look back, I can’t think of many circumstances where we’ve (the NBA) suspended a player based on an allegation alone,” Silver said.

“And in this case, we have an allegation and then you have a police investigation and a parallel league investigation.

“I would also add that where there’s a criminal investigation, we (the NBA) take a back seat.

“And so you have an allegation, you have an ongoing criminal investigation, that impacts how the Players’ Association can work with us because of course the player needs to protect his rights, so I’m not going to say ‘never, ever.’”

Silver said the league had no plans to stop Giddey from playing while the investigations continue.

“But I think this is the path we have consistently followed in the past. There’s an ongoing criminal investigation, Newport Police opened up that investigation, notified us, we then take a back seat,” he said.

“And that’s where things currently stand.”

Images uploaded to social media showed Giddey with a young woman.

Giddey appeared shirtless in one image with a young woman.

Boomers star Giddey is currently in the third year of a four-year, $41m rookie contract with the Thunder, but was due to command significantly more in his next contract given the way he burst onto the NBA scene, utilising his six-foot-eight frame and incredible passing skills.

However he’s experienced a tough third season to date amid the allegations hanging over him, despite the OKC Thunder becoming one of the hottest teams in the league to start the 2023-24 season.

Across the board he is struggling to make an impact on the court in 2023 with almost every statistical category worse off than his rookie season.

He’s currently averaging 11.8 points per game, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Comparing those figures to last season he’s down 4.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game.

Thanks in large part to his diminishing on-court impact, Giddey’s playing time has fallen away, dropping from more than 31 minutes per game across his opening two seasons, down to 26 minutes this season.

His on-court struggles have been exposed by opposing teams with none more damning than the Thunder’s contest against the Houston Rockets on Thursday.

Adam Silver has revealed the NBA investigation into Giddey has taken a back seat. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty)

The allegations against Giddey first emerged when pictures and videos were posted to social media featuring the NBA star with a young woman.

One of the images is of a shirtless Giddey standing behind the woman.

There are videos which feature Giddey supposedly talking to the girl’s brother, in which he says: “I’m here with your beautiful sister.

“Good luck for your season. I hear you’re going to Sacramento soon for a game so best of luck. We’re going to come up and watch you take care of business.”

In another video, where she appears to be standing in the background outside a nightclub, Giddey says: “What’s up my man? We’re at the front of the club, me and my girl, about to head back to mine.”

Josh Giddey’s performances have dropped off since the allegations arose. (Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images)

Giddey has only addressed the media once since the posts were made to social media, stating in late November: “I understand the question, obviously, but there is no further comment right now.”

Pushed on the matter again, he said: “I get the question guys. I completely understand you guys want to know about it. But, just for right now, I don’t have anything to say.”

While the age of consent in California, where Giddey is being investigated, is 18, someone accused of statutory rape is able to escape conviction if they reasonably believed the alleged victim was an adult.

Criminal defence lawyer Neil Shouse, a former prosecutor, told CODE Sports this could be successfully argued if the other person “claimed and appeared to be over 18”, carried a fake ID showing they were over 18, or was present in an adult venue like a bar or club.

Giddey has not been charged with any offence. News.com.au has contacted Giddey’s management company Octagon for comment.