Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder players react to Josh Giddey trade

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and other Oklahoma City Thunder players are sad to see Josh Giddey leave the team. Some players on the Thunder’s roster took to social media to react to the news that Giddey had been traded to Chicago. The stations have been collected in a montage from the OKC Thunder Wire.

Gilgeous-Alexander posted three sad faces as she reacted to the news. Other Thunder players have been even more vocal about the trade, including forward Jaylin Williams.

“Go do your job 3,” Williams posted on social media, referring to Giddey’s number with Oklahoma City.

Giddey and Thunder

Giddey played his entire career in Oklahoma City. He averaged 12 points per game last season on 48 percent field goal percentage. He appeared in 80 games this season, steadily working his way into the Thunder’s rotation. He also averaged 25 minutes per contest. Oklahoma City lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference playoffs.

The guard has proven to be a solid defender in the league. He grabbed rebounds from the post, grabbing 7 boards per game. Giddey is from Australia who also played basketball for that country. He became the first NBA player to record a triple-double in less than 25 minutes in a game with a 100 percent field goal percentage. He has 11 career triple-doubles.

Giddey ran into legal trouble in 2023 when he was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl. No charges have been filed following a law enforcement investigation. The NBA investigated the matter but issued no disciplinary action. The league closed its investigation in May. Giddey would not comment on the matter, but law enforcement issued a statement after their investigation was completed.

“Our detectives reviewed all available information and were unable to corroborate any criminal activity related to Mr. Giddey,” the Newport Beach Police Department in California said in a statement, according to Fox Sports.

“The Newport Beach Police Department is committed to ensuring that accurate information is disseminated to the public while ensuring the rights of all involved.”

Giddey now has a fresh start in Chicago. Bulls traded Alex Caruso to Oklahoma City for guard. Giddey joins the Bulls backcourt with Coby White, who averaged 19 points last season. Giddey should work into the rotation immediately. The Bulls finished the year with a 39-43 record. It was a disappointment, and the franchise is still looking for their first NBA championship since Michael Jordan roamed the floor more than 25 years ago.

It’s clear that Giddey will be missed by his Oklahoma City teammates. Time will tell which team has a better season next year. Giddey is a former first round draft pick. He was selected by the Thunder with the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.