Thunder rookie Josh Giddey becomes youngest player with triple-double in NBA history
OKLAHOMA CITY — Josh Giddey, at 19 years and 84 days old, became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double. The Oklahoma City Thunder rookie reached the feat with four minutes left in the fourth quarter Sunday night against the Dallas Mavericks.
Giddey finished with 17 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds in the Thunder’s 95-86 loss to the Mavericks at Paycom Center. He also chipped in four steals.
"A win is always better than the individual stats for me," Giddey said. "If I had zero, zero, zero and we win, I’m more happy than if I have a triple-double and lose. It’s always been that way for me. Always will be. But yeah, it’s a cool milestone."
Giddey rallied the undermanned Thunder in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma City cut Dallas’ lead to four points with 40 seconds left before Mavericks forward Maxi Kleber drilled a dagger 3-pointer 16 seconds later.
Giddey, born Oct. 10, 2002 in Melbourne, Australia, is 56 days younger than Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball was when Ball recorded a triple-double last season. Both Giddey and Ball played in Australia’s National Basketball League before declaring for the NBA draft.
"I’m happy for him. I’m proud of him," Thunder coach Mike Wilks said of Giddey. "He’s a great worker. I get to spend a lot of time with him. He’s a sponge. Smart for a young player.
"But again, he just got lost in the competition. We weren’t focused on the numbers."
Giddey returned to the starting lineup Sunday after missing the last three games with COVID.
"It sucks sitting in a hotel room, quarantining and watching games on TV," Giddey said.
Giddey had to quickly play himself into shape on Sunday.
"At the start I was gassed," he said. By the end, he made history.
But give fellow Thunder rookie Aaron Wiggins credit. He made Giddey work for his triple-double.
With about 4½ minutes left, both Wiggins and Giddey skied for an uncontested defensive rebound. Wiggins came down with it. He had no idea Giddey was one rebound shy of a triple-double.
"As coach Mark (Daigneault) would say, Skittles," Wiggins said before telling his side of the story. "When I grabbed the rebound and I heard the crowd, I immediately knew."
Thunder fans gave a collective groan.
"I tried to pass him the ball, hoping the rebound would transfer, too," Wiggins said. "I think they called timeout right after the next play, and I went straight to him and I was like, 'My fault.' I had no idea. You don’t really pay attention to those things when you’re playing.
"But even after I took it and I heard the crowd go crazy I said to him, like, 'I know you’re gonna get it. There’s plenty of time left.' The way that he rebounds, the way that he plays the game, triple-doubles are gonna come naturally to him throughout his career."
Giddey wouldn’t want it any other way.
"My teammates were telling me, but I was never gonna go out there hunting rebounds," he said. "I think a few fell into my lap the last five minutes."
Follow Joe Mussatto on Twitter @joe_mussatto.