Josh Giddey receives huge cheer from OKC Thunder crowd during introduction amid recent scandal

OKC Thunder fans support Josh Giddey as he plays amid allegations. Giddey's coach and team have no comment on the issue.

Josh Giddey, the Australian player for the OKC Thunder, has faced serious allegations, but the relationship between him and the fans appears to remain strong. Giddey played for the first time since the allegations emerged, starting for the Thunder in their game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite the loss, the OKC crowd cheered loudly as he was introduced as a starter.

Currently, the league is investigating accusations that Giddey engaged in an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl. The allegations surfaced on social media through a now-deleted post, suggesting that the girl in videos and photos with Giddey was a high school junior. Giddey declined to comment on the issue during practice, stating that he had nothing to say at the moment.

OKC coach Mark Daigneault made it clear that playing Giddey was "not even a decision" from a basketball standpoint, emphasizing that it has become a league concern rather than solely a team issue. Giddey is in the third year of his four-year, $41 million rookie contract with the Thunder, making him the sixth highest-paid player on the team.

Despite the allegations, the Thunder exercised the fourth-year contract option on Giddey, showing their commitment to him. In the 15 games before the allegations surfaced, Giddey averaged 12.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game for the Thunder. He will be extension-eligible next summer, making $8,352,367 next season.

Share With Others