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Over the weekend, the Oklahoma City Thunder shipped Australian guard Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for two-time All-Defensive Team guard Alex Caruso.
Josh Giddey, who was drafted #6 overall by the Thunder in the 2021 NBA Draft, got off to a promising start in Oklahoma City as he became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double.
This season, Giddey played in a career-high 80 games for the Thunder, all of which were starts. Despite the career-highs in starts, 3-point percentage, and free-throw percentage, 2023-24 was likely the most difficult year of Giddey’s career as he was accused of being in a relationship with a minor.
Giddey was investigated by both the Newport Beach Police Department and the NBA, however, neither handed down punishment on Giddey as neither were able to “corroborate any criminal activity.”
In his farewell message to OKC Thunder fans, Giddey seemingly addressed the allegations by thanking the fanbase for sticking by him through “very low lows.”
“Okc… thank you for EVERYTHING. To the city for embracing me from Day 1. To Mr Bennett, Sam & Mark for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dream of my being an NBA player, I am forever grateful,” Giddey wrote on Instagram following the trade.
“My brothers, who I got to share the floor with for 3 years. the best group of guys I could’ve imagined. Stuck with me through the very high highs & the very low lows. You guys know the real me. I am forever in debt to Oklahoma and no words will do justice to how much the city & the organization mean to me and my family.”
The Oklahoma City Thunder will be looking to build on a 2023-24 season that saw them finish with the best record in the Western Conference. As for the Bulls, they’ll be looking to break free of the mediocrity they’ve been mired in for over a decade.