Oklahoma City Thunder will not have rookie point guard Josh Giddey available for the rest of the season, the team announced.
Giddey has been dealing with a lingering hip injury during the last month. As it turns, he won’t return for the rebuilding Thunder this season.
“It’s a tricky injury that’s a little unpredictable,” OKC coach Mark Daigneault said. “I would not say it met or didn’t meet an expectation. We didn’t really have an expectation,” via NBA.com.
In 54 starts this NBA season, OKC’s sixth overall pick averaged 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.4 assists in 31.5 minutes per game. Only Ben Simmons, Magic Johnson, and Oscar Robertson eclipsed such numbers as a rookie.
The Thunder, who are on a full-rebuild the last three seasons, will not risk any further injury for the Australian guard. With the Thunder out of playoff contention, he’ll be shut down for the team’s last nine games.
The Thunder currently possess a 21-52 record and are in contention for the worst record in the NBA. OKC have in its possession 17 first-round draft picks for the next four years until the 2026 NBA draft.
So, they could be in for a long rebuild until the right pieces fall in the right place. Giddey and his fellow backcourt teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will definitely be part of the bigger picture in Oklahoma.
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