BIO: Josh Giddey was born in Melbourne (VIC) and began playing basketball as a junior with the Melbourne basketball program. Giddey received a scholarship to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (Canberra) in 2019. He spent one year there and played for the program’s state league team.

FAMILY: Josh Giddey is the son of Warrick Giddey who played 449 games in the NBL. Also, his mother, Kim, played for the Tigers in the Women’s National Basketball League. Giddey’s sister, Hannah, plays forward for the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles.

NBL EXPERIENCE

Josh Giddey made his NBL debut with the Adelaide 36ers at 18 years of age. He scored seven points in his first game.

After finishing seventh with a 12-16 record and missing the playoffs the previous season, Adelaide parted ways with long-time coach Joey Wright despite time remaining on his contract, with his departure coming amid several issues with players. Former Perth assistant Conner Henry was appointed as his replacement, while co-captain Kevin White (to Perth), Harry Froling (to Brisbane) and Obi Kyei (released) departed. Jack McVeigh, Brendan Teys, Daniel Dillon and Alex Mudronja remained contracted as Henry and GM of Basketball Jeff Van Groningen rebuilt the roster.

On March 12, 2020, Adelaide signed highly-rated guard Josh Giddey through the NBL’s Next Stars program. Giddey had recently become the youngest Australian to debut for the Boomers since Ben Simmons and became the first Australian player to join the Next Stars program.

‘Josh is arguably the best young basketball talent in the nation, and we’re thrilled for him to choose to start his professional career at the Adelaide 36ers,’ said Adelaide 36ers owner Grant Kelley on Giddey’s signing.

Five-time club MVP Daniel Johnson re-signed on a three-year deal, while former NBL Rookie of the Year Isaac Humphries (via Lakeland) signed for two years and Keanu Pinder (via Warsaw) joined on a one-year deal. Sunday Dech (via Illawarra) was added on a three-year deal, with former NBA guard Donald Sloan and Tony Crocker filling Adelaide’s two import spots.

Giddey came off the bench in Adelaide’s season opener against Melbourne at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on January 15, finishing with 7 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block as United won 89-65. Johnson (27 points and 5 rebounds) led Adelaide and McVeigh (9 points) provided support, while Jo Lual-Acuil (16 points and 12 rebounds) led Melbourne.

Giddey (10.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.6 assists across 28 games) quickly established himself as Adelaide’s primary playmaker, coming off the bench in his first two games before moving into the starting lineup and eventually leading the NBL in assists.

Two days after the opener, Giddey (16 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) helped Adelaide claim its first win of the season, defeating South East Melbourne 116-108 in double overtime. Johnson (33 points and 4 rebounds) and Humphries (14 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks) were also instrumental, while Mitch Creek (30 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists) led the Phoenix. Giddey suffered a heavy fall after a breakaway dunk during the game, landing face-first and missing Adelaide’s next game on medical advice as a precaution before returning against New Zealand on January 22.

Adelaide opened the season 4-2 before COVID-19 disruptions resulted in the NBL Cup being held in Melbourne, where the 36ers struggled and slipped from third to seventh. Sloan (9 points and 3 assists across 6 games) was moved to the bench and subsequently granted a mutual release, with Dech (8.7 points and 4.1 rebounds across 36 games) elevated into the starting lineup alongside Giddey. Jeremy Kendle (5.7 points across 10 games) was signed as an interim replacement before being released, while Brandon Paul (13.7 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 20 games) joined for the remainder of the season. Adelaide was also without Humphries (13.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks across 19 games) for 11 consecutive games after he injured his left foot on February 27, with Jack Purchase signed as his injury replacement.

Giddey’s best and highest-scoring game of the season came against Brisbane at John Cain Arena on March 11, where he finished with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 11 assists, and 1 steal as Adelaide fell short 109-104. Johnson (29 points and 9 rebounds) and Dech (20 points and 3 rebounds) led the scoring alongside Giddey, while Nathan Sobey (30 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) led Brisbane.

Giddey suffered another injury against South East Melbourne on March 20, finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists before colliding with Yannick Wetzell and falling awkwardly during overtime. He limped from the court and did not return as the Phoenix defeated Adelaide 96-89, with Paul (20 points, 3 assists, and 1 steal) and Johnson (15 points and 3 rebounds) providing support, while Ben Moore (23 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks) led South East Melbourne. The resulting ankle injury kept Giddey out of Adelaide’s next two games against Perth and Cairns before he returned against Illawarra on April 3.

Giddey made NBL history against New Zealand on April 26, recording 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists to become the youngest Australian to record an NBL triple-double, although the Breakers defeated Adelaide 93-77. Johnson (20 points) and Humphries (14 points) led Adelaide’s scoring, while Finn Delany (23 points and 4 assists) led New Zealand.

Two days later, Giddey declared for the 2021 NBA Draft before returning to the court against Brisbane on May 1 and producing 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists as Adelaide defeated the Bullets 101-79. Johnson (26 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Pinder (19 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 blocks) helped the 36ers collect the win, while Sobey (20 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals) led Brisbane. The performance made Giddey the first Australian in NBL history to record triple-doubles in consecutive games.

Giddey produced his third triple-double in four games against Sydney on May 9, finishing with 11 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists, and 1 steal as Adelaide came from 16 points down to defeat the Kings 97-88 in overtime and remain in the playoff race. Johnson (20 points and 9 rebounds) and Paul (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks) provided support, while Jarell Martin (25 points and 7 rebounds) led Sydney.

Giddey’s final appearance came against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on May 16, where he finished with 4 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal as the Kings defeated Adelaide 85-75. Johnson (23 points and 6 rebounds) and Paul (21 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) led the 36ers, while Martin (20 points and 9 rebounds) led Sydney as the loss effectively ended Adelaide’s playoff hopes.

The following day Adelaide, the NBL and Giddey’s management collectively decided to remove him from the active roster so he could refresh and prepare for the upcoming NBA Draft. He consequently missed Adelaide’s final five games for draft preparation rather than injury. Combined with the precautionary absence following his January fall and the two games missed with his ankle injury in March, this accounted for all eight games he missed during the season.

“Josh, the Club and the NBL have made the collective decision that it’s in his best interests to finish his season now and start preparing for the NBA Draft and he leaves with our best wishes for what will be a very exciting career ahead of him. His workload in his rookie season has been immense and given how quickly the NBA Draft is approaching, we are all supportive of Josh taking the opportunity to refresh and prepare for the workouts ahead of him,” said NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger.

Johnson (19.4 points and 7.1 rebounds across 36 games) led Adelaide in scoring for the sixth time and shared the club MVP award with Giddey, who was also named the NBL Rookie of the Year after leading the league in assists. Crocker (10.8 points across 32 games) and McVeigh (9.4 points and 3.3 rebounds across 36 games) were also regular contributors, while Giddey’s three triple-doubles highlighted a rookie season which established him as one of the league’s leading young players.

With Giddey already removed from the active roster, Adelaide closed its season against Melbourne at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on June 6, where Crocker (27 points and 5 rebounds) and Johnson (18 points and 13 rebounds) led the 36ers, while Jock Landale (19 points and 9 rebounds) led United to a 102-80 victory, leaving Adelaide seventh with a 13-23 record.

Josh Giddey played one season in the NBL. He averaged 10.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.6 assists in 28 NBL games.

CAREER RANKINGS:
– 5th in assists per game.

HIGHLIGHTS: