Josh Giddey made waves during the 2020-21 NBL season for the Adelaide 36ers, where he won the NBL’s Rookie of the Year award and earned himself an invite to the 2021 NBA Draft, where the Oklahoma City Thunder selected him as the sixth overall pick.

The Thunder are well and truly a franchise in the rebuilding phase, with the days of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant dominating the league for them a distant memory.

Last season Oklahoma City finished in the Western Conference’s 14th seed and last place in the Northwest Division.

Despite this, Giddey had a tremendous individual season and was selected for 2022’s NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

The 19-year-old had revealed that Cleveland Cavalier Caris LeVert was crucial in his development when the former Michigan Wolverine mentored Giddey at a training camp in India back in 2015.

“He [LeVert] was the first NBA player who I ever spoke to; he gave me a lot of advice after that camp,” Giddey said to reporters.

“He was big on believing in me and my potential. Hearing that from an NBA player did a lot for me in terms of self-confidence.”

It seems we have LeVert to thank for helping one of Australia’s most exciting young athletes have the opportunity to play on the big stage of the NBA.

The Thunder’s assistant coach David Akinyooye has recently spoken to Fox Sports and believes Giddey will take his game to the next level.

“He’s [Giddey’s] great about asking questions but most importantly doing the work, showing up early, staying late, and I think for him going into his second year, he’s going to improve.

“His first year, he was able to adjust to the game, both on the offensive side and defensive side, and now it’s his second year.

“His confidence is going to grow, and he’s going to continue to grow.

“Players are starting to see it, his teammates are starting to see it, and he’s stepping into it.”

These glowing words from one of his coaches will surely give Giddey the confidence to continue progressing in season 2022-23 as the Thunder looks for a return to the playoffs.