It seems like just yesterday, the Oklahoma City Thunder faithful were enraged at Thunder GM Sam Presti’s sixth selection in the 2021 NBA Draft. He chose Josh Giddey, who we all knew was good, but not as good as other big names associated with the draft.
Presti clearly made the right decision. On Sunday, January 2, 2022, just 36 games into his NBA career, 19-year old Giddey became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double.
All eyes were on Giddy heading into the matchup against the Mavericks because OKC’s star players were out. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luguentz Dort, and the majority of the team’s key contributors were out due to injuries and the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
He stepped up both on the offensive and defensive end of the floor, finishing with 17 points, 14 rebounds, 13 rebounds, and four steals.
Giddey is 19 years and 84 days old., which makes him 56 days younger than LaMelo Ball, who set the record last season. The fourth-youngest to do it, Luka Doncic (who OKC played on Sunday), was 19 years and 327 days old.
It’s safe to say, Oklahoma City is the triple-double capital of the league. Russell Westbrook broke history in OKC, notching numerous triple-doubles inside the then Chesapeake Energy Arena, and Giddey has continued the triple-double trend inside of what is now called the Paycom Center.
Westbrook recorded his first triple-double during his rookie season, March 2, 2009, but didn’t make it a habit until a few years into his career. Josh Giddey, based on his natural court-vision and size, has a chance to become more of a natural with the triple-doubles than the triple-double king himself.
Surely this is the start of many great performances from the young man from Australia.
