Reader Discretion for Topics of Sexual Assault, Pedophilia
Last Week, a serious and disturbing accusation was made against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey. The former sixth overall pick and 2022 All-Rookie Second Team member was accused of having a relationship with a minor. On November 23rd, an anonymous Instagram account posted several alleged pieces of evidence of Giddey, 21, with an alleged teenage girl, who is believed to be 16. While nothing is confirmed, and as of now, these are all allegations, the rising thunder guard’s career might be in jeopardy.
Josh Giddey is an Australian guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Melbourne native began his career with the Adelaide 36ers of the Australian National Basketball League. In the NBL, Giddey became the youngest player in the league to achieve a triple-double and would later win league Rookie of the Year. Giddey was selected sixth overall in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Giddey joined a young OKC team with teammates such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, and Aleksej Pokusevski, to name a few. Giddey flourished in the league, becoming the youngest player in league history to achieve a triple-double and becoming the only rookie in his class to record at least 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 300 assists.
On November 23rd, an anonymous Instagram account posted multiple videos and photos of Giddey having an inappropriate relationship with an alleged minor. Videos of the two at a club and the same girl admitting to having a relationship with Giddey were also reposted. The girl’s true identity in the videos has yet to be confirmed. Despite this, several people on the internet have doxxed and released the personal information of an alleged High School junior in California, who they believe to be the same person. The background context and date when these videos were taken are unknown. Rumors have spread through social media and news outlets that the age of the minor Giddey was alleged to have a relationship with was between 15 and 17; however, again, nothing has been confirmed.
Since the allegations, Giddey has stayed as a member of Thunder during practice and games and has yet to comment, as well as the Thunder organization. Giddey received a standing ovation from fans during player introductions in his first game since the allegations were first reported, a home loss against the Philadelphia 76ers. The NBA and Newport Beach, California Police Department have opened investigations into the claims against Giddey. Many have likened the situation to similar situations that occurred with fellow athletes Wander Franco and Karl Malone. Franco, a former #1 MLB Prospect, as well as an All-Star infielder for the Tampa Bay Rays, was placed on administrative leave in August of this year after law enforcement in the Dominican Republic, Franco’s native country, opened an investigation after multiple allegations and social media posts had come out, claiming Franco had inappropriate relationships with multiple underage girls. Karl Malone, a two-time NBA MVP, third all-time scoring leader, and Hall of Famer, among other accolades, impregnated a 13-year-old girl while he was in college in 1983. Malone’s child with the young girl, Demetress Bell, eventually became an NFL player and spoke out about Malone later in life.
