Josh Giddey breaks down what led to his trade from OKC

Even non-Oklahoma City Thunder fans could surmise that Josh Giddey’s exit from Bricktown was murky. Once viewed as a future franchise cornerstone, the 21-year-old Australian turned in his worst season as a pro in 2023. On top of that, in the biggest games of the season, he fell out of the team’s rotation entirely, signaling the writing on the wall.

Giddey, OKC’s No. 6 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, was one of the franchise’s crucial rebuilding assets in its pursuit of rediscovering a winning path. As a rookie, he was every bit as advertised and netted 12.5 points, and at just 19 years old, he tallied a team-high 6.4 assists to go along with 7.8 rebounds, an incredible blend of skill.

The 2023 season, though, saw Giddey’s assists and rebounds plummet while his role on the team became foggy. Is he a point guard or a forward? Does he belong off-ball? All these questions festered as his departure from Oklahoma City became increasingly inevitable.

Looking back on a nightmare

OKC would’ve loved for things to have been different, as does Giddey. Now, it is nothing more than a story to look back on as a lesson for the young star. Josh was traded to the Chicago Bulls in June before he assembled a solid run in the Paris Olympics. Recently, he spoke out for the first time regarding how the last year has gone and how he would like to remember his Thunder stint.

"I felt like I couldn't get going. I'd string one, two, three good games together, and then there'd be a stretch of bad ones. It just felt like I could never build any momentum," Giddey recalled of the 2023 season. He later added, "The thing I found the best was just integrating myself into the team. Whether I was on the plane, at hotels, in the locker room, just being around my teammates made things so much better.”

Giddey had some games that recaptured the hearts of Thunder fans, like a 20-point, 13-assist, 13-rebound triple-double against the Charlotte Hornets in a late regular season contest. He also recorded a flattering triple-double stat line against the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden, displaying his unwavering confidence in one of the association’s iconic and ravenous arenas.

However, his decline in production was glaring. Josh recorded a whopping 26 games with single digits in the points column, including a forgettable two points in a 14-point loss to Victor Wembanyama and the lowly San Antonio Spurs.

The postseason became the final straw for the former All-Rookie Team member. While his performances were rather routine in round one, it went unnoticed because the Thunder bulldozed through the New Orleans Pelicans in a sweep. Round two, however, was where Josh’s weakness became glaring.

The forward managed just 6.2 points per game against the Dallas Mavericks, as his minutes fell from 106 in the first round to just 75 in the semifinals. Giddey was benched in favor of more shooting-focused lineups for OKC, giving a clear indication that the young and improving Thunder may be better off without their once-untouchable asset.

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