So, I started by just remembering what I saw during the season. Watched a bunch of Thunder games, not like, religiously, but caught quite a few. Early on, years back, man, those passes were something else. You thought, okay, this kid's got it. That court vision was crazy.
But this past season? Felt different. Especially later on, and definitely in the playoffs. He seemed kinda... sidelined sometimes? Like the game was happening around him. Didn't seem to have the same confidence, maybe hesitated pulling the trigger. And yeah, the turnovers could be rough sometimes.
My Casual Look-See
I wasn't digging through spreadsheets or anything fancy. Just pulled up his basic stats page one afternoon. Yep, scoring was down a bit from the year before. Assists were still okay, but didn't have that same pop, that feeling he was running the show.
My thinking went something like this:- Okay, SGA blew up, became this absolute scoring machine. That changes everything for everyone else.
- The team needed more shooting around SGA, and that wasn't really Giddey's main thing.
- Defensively, he wasn't locking guys down either.
- So, maybe the fit just wasn't perfect anymore in OKC, especially with how they wanted to play.
Saw some folks online saying similar stuff. Some were down on him, others thought he just needed a change of scenery. It’s easy to forget how young he still is, really.
So, What's My Prediction Then?
Look, I'm no expert analyst. This is just gut feeling, based on watching him play and seeing how things shifted. With the news about him potentially heading to Chicago, that really shapes my prediction.
I reckon he's gonna get a fresh start and probably a bigger role, more chances to handle the ball like he did early on. Chicago needs playmaking, right? He'll get the keys more often than he did lately in OKC. I don't see him suddenly becoming a 25-point scorer, that's not his game.
But my prediction? I think Josh Giddey bounces back nicely in a new spot. Expect those assist numbers to climb again. Rebounds too, he's always been good on the glass for a guard. He'll probably look more comfortable, more involved. More triple-double chances, probably. He won't be the main guy, but he'll be a solid, important piece doing a bit of everything.
Could I be wrong? Absolutely. Maybe the shooting never really improves enough, maybe the turnovers stay high. It's a gamble for any team. But watching him, you see the talent is there. Just needed the right situation to let it breathe again. That's my take on it, anyway. We'll just have to wait and see how it plays out on the court.
