Josh Giddey
A precocious Australian playmaker who rewrote the NBA record books as a teenager with his visionary passing and triple-doubles.
Born 2002 (age 24)·Australian basketball player·Birthday: October 10·Generation Z
Biography
Josh Giddey arrived in the NBA not as a raw project, but as a fully-formed maestro. Bypassing American college basketball, he honed his craft in Australia's NBL, where his exceptional court vision and size for a guard turned heads. Drafted sixth overall in 2021, he immediately silenced doubters, becoming the youngest player in league history to record a triple-double. His game is a throwback—a relentless pursuit of rebounds and an unselfish, creative passing style that makes his teammates better. While his outside shot has been a focus of development, his innate feel for the game and flair for the dramatic assist have made him a cornerstone for his teams and a fan favorite.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Josh was born in 2002, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Josh Was Born
The biggest hits of 2002
#1 Movie
Spider-Man
Best Picture
Chicago
#1 TV Show
Friends
Josh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2002Born
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2007Started school
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2015Became a teenager
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Could drive
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2020Could vote
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2023Turned 21
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 24 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double at 19 years and 84 days old.
- First rookie since Oscar Robertson (1961) to record three consecutive triple-doubles.
- Named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2022.
- Won the NBA Rookie of the Month award four times during his first season.
Did You Know?
He played professionally for the Adelaide 36ers in Australia's NBL before being drafted, winning Rookie of the Year there.
His sister, Hannah, plays professional basketball in Australia.
He was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Chicago Bulls in 2024.
“I've always been a pass-first guy. I get more joy out of getting my teammates an open shot than scoring myself.”
