Giddey led the league in assists with 7.6 per game, and was named the NBL Rookie of the Year for his performances.

Oklahoma City elected to make him a centrepiece of their young and emerging core by selecting him with the sixth pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and despite missing 28 games due to injury in his debut campaign with the Thunder, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

He is now an integral part to the Australian Boomers setup, and has been earmarked by team veterans as being a huge part of the nation’s future on the international basketball scene.

Giddey averaged 10.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.6 rebounds in his sole season in the NBL, and registered three triple-doubles in 28 appearances.

Giddey on the NBL: “It started with the younger guys in the Next Stars program, with guys using that as a steppingstone as an alternative to college. But now you see guys like Xavier Cooks, Mitch Creek a couple years back, those guys making the leap as older guys to the NBA. It’s proving to be a legitimate pathway and it’s getting a lot more recognition around the world. People are taking it very seriously, it’s getting a lot of good imports, ratings are going up. Everything about the NBA is getting better and better. I’m a big advocate for it."

NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger on Giddey being drafted: "This is the culmination of years of hard work from Josh and it is a day he and his family will never forget. Josh is a fantastic ambassador for Australian basketball and we have no doubt he will do us proud on the NBA stage. It is also a landmark day for Australian basketball and the NBL, as we further validate ourselves as a league that provides strong and legitimate pathways to the NBA."

‍