On Josh Giddey's return to form, and what it means for the Boomers' upcoming Olympic campaign

Josh Giddey has endured an up-and-down 2023-24 season with the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder, but his recent form gives Boomers fans cause for optimism.

Heading in to the 2023-24 NBA season, Josh Giddey was coming off a productive sophomore campaign and appeared to be a vital piece in Oklahoma City’s rebuild. The Thunder had snuck in to the 2023 NBA play-in tournament, and although a playoff return eluded them, their young core left fans anticipating a bright future. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the franchise centrepiece, averaging thirty-plus points, but Giddey had a productive 2022-23 season of his own; with 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game.

As part of his team’s youth brigade, Giddey appeared to have a long career ahead of him in a Thunder uniform, but that came with a double edged sword. Chet Holmgren made his debut in the 2023-24 season, and has commanded plenty of touches on a team crying out for a dominant big man. For the better part of the season, Holmgren was neck and neck with Victor Wembanyama in the rookie of the year race, and Giddey has found himself taking fewer shots. At the same time, Jalen Williams elevated his game to a new level, becoming a hyper-efficient 20-point per game scorer.

Giddey has seen himself fall in the Thunder’s pecking order, from the unquestioned number two offensive option, to fourth at best. That’s not to say he significantly regressed as a player; the 21 year old is rather a victim of team success. Oklahoma City is currently sitting at the top of the Western Conference, at the time of writing, and Giddey has been the consummate professional in accepting an adjusted role. Offensively, Giddey is shooting 46% from the field (only slightly down from 48% last year), while making 32% of his attempts from downtown (same as last season, and on 3.0 attempts per game).

In terms of counting stats however, Giddey’s averages have taken a hit.