Never Forget: The Oklahoma City Thunder Don’t Get Here Without Josh Giddey, the Unsung Catalyst of NBA Champions’ Rise

The Oklahoma City Thunder are on top of the basketball world. NBA champions for the first time in franchise history, their rise has been described as calculated, patient, and masterfully orchestrated by General Manager Sam Presti. From bold trades to savvy draft picks, the Thunder’s blueprint for success is now being celebrated. But amid the praise for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s brilliance, Chet Holmgren’s arrival, and Jalen Williams’ emergence, there’s one truth that Thunder faithful know well — none of this happens without Josh Giddey.

The Australian playmaker has been at the heart of Oklahoma City’s transformation from lottery regular to title-winning juggernaut. It’s easy to overlook him in a roster filled with rising superstars, but insiders, teammates, and coaches agree: Giddey’s fingerprints are all over the Thunder’s championship DNA.

When OKC drafted Giddey with the 6th overall pick in 2021, it raised eyebrows. Many questioned the selection. The tall, pass-first guard from Australia didn’t fit the typical mold of a high lottery pick. He wasn’t a flashy scorer, he wasn’t a freak athlete, and he wasn’t well-known to the American basketball public. But Sam Presti and the Thunder front office saw something others didn’t — a unique playmaker with vision, feel, and versatility that could anchor their rebuild.

Fast forward to 2025, and those doubts have been silenced. Giddey has evolved from an unheralded rookie to a critical pillar in OKC’s championship foundation. His journey is a testament to development, resilience, and an unselfish commitment to the team’s greater good.

Giddey’s impact is hard to measure in typical box-score stats alone, though he’s filled those columns consistently throughout his young career. His size at 6-foot-8, coupled with elite court vision, allows him to orchestrate OKC’s offense in ways few guards in the league can replicate. He’s the connector, the tempo-setter, the one who keeps the machine humming when chaos threatens to take over.

Over the last two seasons, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander blossomed into an MVP, Chet Holmgren established himself as an All-Defensive anchor, and Jalen Williams emerged as a versatile two-way force, it was Giddey who often provided the steadying hand. Whether initiating offense, creating for others, or crashing the glass, his versatility allowed head coach Mark Daigneault to deploy creative lineups, mismatches, and rotations that wore down opponents.

In this year’s playoff run, Giddey’s role became even more pronounced. Facing the pressure of postseason basketball, with every possession magnified, Giddey’s poise and decision-making shined. He wasn’t always the leading scorer — that was often Shai or Jalen — but his fingerprints were on every big moment.

Against the seasoned Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, Giddey’s playmaking dismantled one of the league’s most disciplined defenses. His ability to exploit Nikola Jokić’s defensive positioning, find cutters, and orchestrate pick-and-rolls kept Denver off-balance. In Game 5, with the series tied 2-2, Giddey recorded a near triple-double — 14 points, 11 assists, and 9 rebounds — in a signature road victory that tilted momentum toward OKC.

Then came the NBA Finals, where the Thunder faced the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics. Pundits called it a clash of young cores, defensive schemes, and perimeter firepower. What they didn’t account for was how Giddey would tip the scales.

Throughout the series, Giddey punished Boston’s aggressive switching defense with his high-IQ reads. When defenses overcommitted to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Giddey was the release valve, making timely passes, orchestrating secondary actions, and delivering when the lights were brightest. His Game 3 performance — 16 points, 12 assists, and 8 rebounds — solidified his reputation as a big-game performer. More importantly, his unselfishness created space and rhythm for teammates to flourish.

But Giddey’s value extends beyond his statistics. His basketball IQ, maturity, and leadership have been instrumental in shaping OKC’s culture. At just 21 years old when the championship season began, he carried himself with the poise of a veteran. Teammates speak glowingly of his work ethic, humility, and team-first mentality.

“He’s the glue,” Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said after hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy. “A lot of what we do doesn’t work without Josh. People look at the highlights, the points, but Josh is out there making winning plays every night.”

The numbers support SGA’s sentiment. During the regular season, Giddey averaged 13.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game, shooting career-best percentages from the floor. But his advanced metrics — assist-to-turnover ratio, on-off court impact, and lineup efficiency — revealed the full extent of his value.

Giddey’s growth has also mirrored the Thunder’s rise. In his rookie season, OKC won just 24 games. They were rebuilding, young, and inconsistent. But Giddey showed flashes of brilliance, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double multiple times in a season. His confidence, vision, and creativity were evident, even as the team struggled.

By year two, with the emergence of Jalen Williams and the steady progress of Shai, OKC flirted with a play-in spot. Giddey’s sophomore campaign saw increased efficiency, stronger defense, and improved leadership. He learned the NBA’s physicality, adjusted his game, and became more assertive offensively.

This season, it all came together. The Thunder won 58 games, clinched the top seed in the Western Conference, and stormed through the playoffs with a mix of youth, depth, and hunger. And through it all, Giddey remained the steady engine driving their system.

Beyond the hardwood, Giddey has embraced Oklahoma City as home. His affable personality, community involvement, and humble approach have endeared him to fans. His popularity in Australia has also elevated the Thunder’s global profile, making OKC a team with international appeal.

For Sam Presti, Giddey’s success is vindication of vision. The bold 2021 draft pick, questioned by many, has become an irreplaceable piece of OKC’s championship core. Presti’s long-term approach — stockpiling draft capital, developing young talent, building organically — was never about shortcuts. Giddey epitomizes that philosophy: develop, improve, and grow into greatness.

As the confetti fell at Paycom Center and the Thunder celebrated their historic title, Giddey remained characteristically humble. Amid the celebrations, he deflected credit to teammates, coaches, and the organization. But make no mistake, insiders know his contributions cannot be overstated.

Mark Daigneault summed it up perfectly: “We don’t get here without Josh Giddey. He’s the heartbeat of this group — his IQ, his selflessness, his competitiveness. Every successful team needs someone like Josh.”

The Thunder’s future looks even brighter. With Shai locked in long-term, Holmgren ascending, Jalen Williams growing into an All-Star, and Giddey orchestrating, OKC is built to contend for years to come. But amidst the stars and headlines, never forget — the Oklahoma City Thunder don’t get here without Josh Giddey.

He’s the unsung catalyst of their NBA championship rise — and his story is just getting started.