How an Aussie NBA whizz kid shocked the basketball world by smashing a 61-year-old record


How an Aussie NBA whizz kid shocked the basketball world by breaking a 61-year-old record

  • Aussie basketball megastar Josh Giddey breaks 61-year-old record 
  • Giddey registered a triple double in three consecutive games
  • First rookie to pull it off since Oscar Robertson in the 1960/61 season 
  • Oklahoma City Thunder guard is the first teenager to accomplish the feat 


Australian whizz kid Josh Giddey has stunned America’s National Basketball league by breaking a record that has stood for 61 years. 

The 19-year-old become the youngest player in league history to pull off a triple double – notching double figures for points, assists and rebounds – when his Oklahoma City Thunder team faced the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. 

Giddey’s historic achievement makes him the first rookie since Oscar Robertson in 1960/61 to pull off triple-doubles in three straight games, and the only player ever to do so as a teenager.

Despite his record-breaking achievement, his team ultimately failed to clinch victory, losing 114-106.   

‘He’s a good player,’ Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said after the game.

‘I thought he played a really good floor game tonight. The triple-double stuff is just a byproduct of how he’s playing.’

Giddey hit overdrive in the final period, when he registered just under half his points. 

‘That’s a bad man on the drive to the basket like that!’ commented basketball legend Michael Cage.

‘He is learning to play with contact. He doesn’t look at the officials at all. He’s just like, “I’m going to go with what I know I can control.'” 

Last month saw the 19-year-old (right, in action against San Antonio) become the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple double in three consecutive games

Last month saw the 19-year-old (right, in action against San Antonio) become the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple double in three consecutive games

Despite Giddey's heroics, his Oklahoma City Thunder team fell to the San Antonio Spurs

Despite Giddey’s heroics, his Oklahoma City Thunder team fell to the San Antonio Spurs

Despite achievement, his team ultimately failed to clinch victory, losing 114-106

Giddey hit overdrive in the final period, when he registered just under half his points

Giddey’s skills will be put to the test again from Saturday morning (AEDT) when he takes part in the Rising Stars mini-tournament and the Skills Challenge at the NBA’s All Stars Weekend

Giddey achieved his historic feat in the final three minutes of the game, recording his fourth career triple-double in just his first year in the world’s best league.

Cage believes the youngster’s stunning run of form proves Australians are more than equipped to match the best players America has to offer.

‘He’s born outside the country, in Australia, so it’s a different type of basketball? No, it’s not. The basketball is still the same,’ Cage said.

‘I’ll tell you one thing, skill travels. Even from Australia, that’s a long way to the States but he’s got some skill,’ added former NBA star Chris Fisher, now an announcer for the Thunder.

Giddey’s skills will be put to the test again on Saturday morning Australian time when he takes part in the Rising Stars mini-tournament and the Skills Challenge at the NBA’s All Stars Weekend.  

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