When thinking of the NBA’s top young players, Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey rarely comes to mind. Not because he isn’t talented, but because he’s already a fifth-year pro with 280 games under his belt—the sixth-most from the 2021 draft class.
However, he’s still only 23 years old, having just celebrated his birthday 10 days ago. Remarkably, Giddey is younger than 14 players selected in July's draft. He continues to improve and discover new aspects of his game, as evidenced by his post-All-Star Game breakout. There’s clearly more room to grow.
As a result, Giddey appeared in FanSided’s 25-under-25 rankings, though not as you might expect. The Aussie didn’t crack the top 25; he actually came in 26th, which isn’t a slight to Giddey nor an over-evaluation. Giddey comes in ahead of Houston Rockets' do-it-all wing Tari Eason and right below former first-overall pick Zaccharie Risacher.
At 23-years-old Josh Giddey is still an up-and-comer
It’s hard to argue that Giddey isn’t currently better than Risacher or even 18th-ranked Ausar Thompson. Still, the ranking makes sense. The jumbo-sized point guard is a difficult player to evaluate. He excels in certain areas, and his playstyle is among the most unique in the NBA. Yet his weaknesses are glaring, and after 280 games, it’s unclear whether he can ever fully overcome them.
Still, Giddey’s placement in FanSided’s rankings highlights arguably his greatest attribute: a wealth of experience despite his youth. Of the five players ranked above him in games played, he is the youngest. At 23, the Aussie is still developing, making him a prime example of why teams prioritize drafting younger prospects.
Prior to last season, Giddey had never shot three-pointers above 33.7 percent. Then he suddenly averaged 1.5 made threes per game at a 37.8 percent clip. He also increased his driving frequency, added a variety of moves, and posted his best shooting percentage from the three- to 10-foot range.
Despite a disappointing third season with the Oklahoma City Thunder and a poor playoff showing, Giddey has been revitalized, as reflected by his ranking in FanSided’s 25-under-25. While some may debate his 26th placement, the key takeaway is that he’s still improving. It’s an achievement in itself for the 6-foot-8 guard to earn recognition after his struggles in Oklahoma City.
Even when analyzing Giddey’s game, Ian Levy of FanSided wrote, “He addresses some of his weaknesses, and deciding that he's not good enough to lead a good team might be a bit premature.” Nearly five years later, Giddey still has the potential to be the best player on a playoff-caliber team. At just 23, he’s continuing to improve and could climb higher in the rankings with two more years of eligibility.