NBA star Josh Giddey’s new nickname draws huge response

NBA standout Josh Giddey continues to earn praise for his play, so a new nickname has raised eyebrows across the league.

We doubt this word has ever been used to describe Josh Giddey before. Photos: Getty Images

Josh Giddey has a unique skillset in the NBA and the Aussie continues to earn plaudits around the league.

So there has been a viral reaction to an odd new nickname for the Thunder star.

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In his third season with Oklahoma City and having just turned 21 years old, Giddey has extraordinary skills and fundamentals for a player his size.

At 203cm and 98kg, Giddey’s passing ability and all-round game belies those measurements.

We doubt this word has ever been used to describe Josh Giddey before. Photos: Getty Images

It has recently come to the attention of keen observers that Giddey is perhaps the world’s best at one particular skill - passing the ball in from the sideline.

Giddey can see plays unfolding ahead of time, allowing him to thread passes through incredibly tight areas to set teammates up for open shots.

Known as the sideline out of bounds play, it has the rather crude - and we think unnecessary - acronym of SLOB.

So what does that make Giddey?

Well, the SLOB wizard, naturally.

Giddey is a SLOB wizard, gets a crazy one off like this almost every game. https://t.co/HhjEbLo0l6

— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) October 28, 2023

In retweeting a video on X that has a demonstration of Giddey’s ability, NBA columnist John Hollinger wrote to his 207,000 followers: “Giddey is a SLOB wizard, gets a crazy one off like this almost every game.”

It may have been an innocent enough line, but it has quickly stuck and led to a hilarious viral reaction, including from Giddey himself.

Thanks to Hollinger’s retweet the video has been viewed six million times.

With 2,700 likes, 543 retweets and 122 comments at the time of writing, it has a life of its own, and we’ve put just a small sample of the replies below.

pic.twitter.com/NbOzmRfKyV

— Jeebus Skittlesworth (@JSkittlesworth) October 29, 2023

Awful name pic.twitter.com/S9uR7jJoDe

— Logan Meyer (@Logmey92) October 28, 2023

he's a what pic.twitter.com/EORSTcWqZt

— Hustle On D (@thunderupdavid) October 28, 2023

That, however, is only the beginning of this viral moment for a nickname that is growing momentum.

First of all, a social media moment can only really go viral if the person involved or the subject of the post interacts.

Giddey has done that, retweeting Hollinger’s post with the line: “A slob wizard is insane.” He added a series of cry-laughing emojis.

The nickname then left the cyberspace and hit the mainstream in the Thunder’s home game against Detroit on Tuesday (AEDT).

As Giddey walks to the bench during the game, a guy can be heard yelling out “good job slob wizard!” with another guy jumping in with “slob wizard”.

Passing is one of Giddey’s best attributes. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

The account that posted the video added the caption “only the real ones will understand” and then backed up with “I need to know if you heard this Josh Giddey”.

Ever the affable Aussie, Giddey replied: “I did indeed hear it.”

That exchange has also had a typical response.

“Best new nickname in a while, trademark it while you still can,” was one reply to Giddey on X.

“Haha I love this kid Giddey!” wrote another.

A third gave credit for all this to Hollinger.

“John Hollinger, the greatest nickname in sports all thanks to you.”