Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gives candid response on upcoming face off against former OKC teammate Josh Giddey
Canada and Australia made a triumphant start to their respective campaigns at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday. Rising superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Canada to a hard-fought 86-79 win over Greece, while Josh Giddey spearheaded Australia's emphatic 92-80 win over Spain.
Canada and Australia will now square off against each other in a marquee Group A game on Tuesday. It will be the first face-off between Shai Gilgeous and Giddey, who were teammates with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA for three years.
The two young guards were OKC's back court before Giddey was traded to the Chicago Bulls earlier in the offseason.
Canada's point guard Shai Gilgeous came up with a candid response when quizzed about battling against his old teammate and Australia's most important player, Giddey.
“I know his game like the back of my hand, and I'm sure he knows mine the same way,” the 24-year-old Shai told Holly Mackenzie after Canada's win over Greece.
"It's going to be a fun matchup," he added.
Last season, Shai and Giddey were part of the OKC team that made its way to the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Dallas Mavericks. In an attempt to improve the roster, OKC decided to part ways with the 21-year-old Australian.
Excellent start for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey
On the opening day of the 2024 Paris Games, the basketball fans were treated to two spectacular performances. The first game of the day witnessed Josh Giddey's masterclass as Australia's point guard rolled out the team's path to victory.
The former OKC star filled up the stat sheet during his 28:46 minutes on the floor. Giddey scored 17 points on 7-of-12 shooting, including 2-of-4 from the 3-point range. The young star grabbed eight rebounds, dished out eight assists and registered a +/- of +15.
The only area in which Giddey struggled slightly was from the free throw line. The 21-year-old shot 1-of-4 from the charity stripe.
The final game on Saturday saw Shai Gilgeous-Alexander captivate onlookers with his jaw-dropping handles and impeccable footwork.
Shai, who finished 2nd in the NBA MVP voting last season, scored 21 points in 30:23 minutes on the court. The OKC Thunder's poster boy shot 5-of-10 from the field, including 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. He grabbed five rebounds, dished out seven assists, accounted for one steal and registered two blocks. The 24-year-old shot 9-of-10 from the free throw line and registered a +/- of +12.
With both Shai Gilgeous and Giddey enjoying a stupendous start to their campaigns, the upcoming battle between two former teammates promises to be a spectacle.