As each and every game passes, Adelaide 36ers star Josh Giddey seems to be increasing his draft stock.
The 18-year-old Aussie sensation is showcasing his NBA-level skillset every time he steps on the NBL floor, most recently, by way of back-to-back triple-doubles.
1⃣5⃣ points
— The NBL (@NBL) May 1, 2021
1⃣1⃣ rebounds
1⃣3⃣ assists
The Next Star @joshgiddey clocking 🔙 to 🔙 triple doubles in #NBL21 pic.twitter.com/CxUUzRvX01
With the NBL season still ongoing, the 6-foot-8 guard is averaging 11.3 points, 7.7 assists and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 43 percent from the field and 31 percent from 3-point range through 24 games.
But what would Giddey bring to the NBA franchise that selects him?
Strengths
Giddey is a brilliant playmaker who can create for his teammates in a variety of ways. He's a pick-and-roll maestro with the ability to make quick and smart decisions on tricky passes in tight windows. His smooth ball handling skills pairs nicely with this aspect of his game.
As a 6-foot-8 point guard, his height allows him to see and make some plays over the top of the defence that smaller players at his position can't.
He's also a savvy and flashy passer in the open floor, making every player around him better with his high offensive IQ and elite court vision. Giddey controls the tempo of a game and plays at his own pace – you can never speed him up.
As an attacker on the offensive end, he has developed an array of floaters and runners to make up for what he lacks in bursty athleticism. His spot-up perimeter shooting is solid, but his jumpshot isn't something he consistently relies on.
Defensively, Giddey has a nose for the ball and plays with an intelligent toughness to make him sound on that end of the floor.
All-in-all, he is as true of a floor general as they come.
Weaknesses
While he has learned to craft his game around this deficiency, Giddey doesn't have the explosive first step or shifty quickness that we typically see from NBA guards. As a result, he may have trouble creating separation at the next level and will have to rely on his size to make plays for himself and his teammates.
He's a streaky shooter, which will have to improve and gain some consistency to keep NBA defences honest when guarding him on the perimeter. He can't afford to let opposing defenders sag off of him with the ball in his hands.
On the defensive end, it will be interesting to see what assignments he takes on as a smart but limited defender physically. Will he have quick enough lateral movement to keep up with guards? Is he long and strong enough to punch up a weight class with forwards?
His shorter 6-foot-7 wingspan may cause limitations on the latter question.
Projected NBA Draft Position: Late lottery pick
Projected NBA Role: Offensive initiator
Shades of: Evan Turner, Ricky Rubio
The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs.