Josh Giddey heavily booed in NBA road game against T-Wolves

Aussie star Josh Giddey is playing his first road game since allegations surfaced against the OKC guard in the United States.

Giddey is receiving a hostile reaction in Minnesota. (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

Australian NBA star Josh Giddey has received his first hostile reaction from an opposition crowd in Wednesday’s clash with the Timberwolves in Minnesota.

The NBA has confirmed it is investigating allegations Giddey has been involved in an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

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The 21-year-old received an encouraging reception at home on Sunday in his first match since the allegations surfaced, but that has not been the case at Target Center in Minnesota.

The game is being shown on NBA League Pass, which offers the option of watching the broadcast hosted by either team.

There was some interest pre-game in the reception Giddey might receive in his first match on the road since the allegations surfaced.

The first key would be the player introductions, yet neither feed showed the Thunder players being introduced, which may or may not have been intentional.

Giddey is receiving a hostile reaction in Minnesota. (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

But it’s impossible to orchestrate the crowd reaction and the Wolves’ fans made their feelings known from the outset.

Giddey had a small smattering of boos whenever he touched the ball in the early stages of the game, which grew as the first quarter unfolded.

The Victorian did manage to quieten the crowd by hitting his first two shots and the commentators were focusing only on proceedings on the court.

“Giddey on the turnaround shot over (Karl-Anthony) Towns, who’s not a great shotblocker even though he’s over seven-feet,” OKC commentator Chris Fisher said when the Aussie hit his second straight shot.

“And I’m loving the fact that Josh is thinking ‘look, if you’re giving me that shot, you gotta watch tape on me ... because I’ve been able to make that shot since my rookie year a couple of seasons ago’,” added co-commentator and former NBA centre Michael Cage.

One of the social media posts.

Giddey then received some Bronx cheers when he had the ball knocked out of his hands on a rebound and again when an alley-oop pass wasn’t converted by teammate Lu Dort.

The Australian’s play seemed unaffected by the crowd response, firing a trademark bullet pass across court through traffic at one stage, finding teammate Jalen Williams, while boos rained down around him.

The loudest boos were saved for Giddey’s trip to the free-throw line early in the second quarter. The crowd relished his first miss, then fell silent when he hit the second.

“I’m just loving his focus right now,” Cage added when Giddey hit a runner in the lane.

“They’re switching defenders on him and they’re giving him that pathway to the basket.

“He is just going right down Main Street and making a lot of plays close in.”

The Wolves (12-4 record) and Thunder (11-5) are currently the top-two teams in the Western Conference standings.

Journalist Jon Krawczynski tweeted about the booing response from the crowd.

“Yes we are,” was one reply from someone who has a Timberwolves logo in their bio.

“Keep it going!! Hopefully it’ll throw him off his game too,” wrote a third.

Target Center crowd is booing Josh Giddey every time he touches the ball.

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) November 29, 2023

Can confirm #wolvesbackpic.twitter.com/F328R6QLyh

— Seth (@sethwwagner) November 29, 2023

Allegations against Giddey first arose via an anonymous social media post last Thursday, which has since been deleted.

Giddey said he was unable to comment on the allegations against him during a team media event last Saturday.

“I understand the question obviously, but there’s no further comment right now,” he said.

The Boomers star is currently in the third year of a four-year, $41m rookie contract with the Thunder, but could command significantly more in his next contract given his performances to date in the NBA.

The allegations against Giddey emerged when pictures and videos were posted to social media featuring the Australian 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.

Giddey has played every game so far this season for the Thunder. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson//Getty Images via AFP)

“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.”

The legal age to attend a nightclub in the United States is 21.

Australian Boomers coach Brian Goorjian was asked about the situation on Monday and stated Giddey has his “full support”.

The veteran coach is travelling to the United States next month to meet with Giddey and other Boomers playing in the NBA and expected to be made more aware of the situation.

“It’s really out of my wheelhouse,” Goorjian said on the Gold Coast on Monday.

“All I’ve done is messaged him and let him know the support is there.

“I am going to go over in early December and see him face-to-face.

“I just want to let him know right now he’s got our full support.”

Oklahoma City has not stood Giddey, with the guard playing in last Sunday’s home loss to the Sixers and again on Wednesday.

The Thunder fell short on Wednesday, losing 106-103 to the Wolves.

Giddey, whose numbers have been down so far this season, contributed 10 points, six rebounds and just one assist in 28 minutes on court.

Originally published as Josh Giddey heavily booed in NBA road game against T-Wolves