The Newport Beach Police Department says their detectives are conducting an investigation into an unsubstantiated accusation that Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey had an improper relationship with an underage girl.
Key points:
- An anonymous social media account claimed in a now-deleted post that Josh Giddey was in an improper relationship with a minor
- The NBA said it was investigating the unsubstantiated claim against the Boomers and Oklahoma City Thunder star
- Newport Beach police said they had now opened an investigation into the claims
In a since-deleted post, an anonymous social media user last week said a girl seen with the 21-year-old Australian in videos and photographs was a high school junior — suggesting an age of 16-17 — at the time.
The age of consent in California, where Giddey is known to train in the offseason, is 18.
The social media account has since been deactivated.
The Newport Beach Police said in a news release on Thursday morning (AEDT) that it was “actively seeking additional information related to these allegations and pursuing all leads and evidence to obtain the facts of the case”.
The NBA said last week that it was investigating. Giddey has declined to comment, and Oklahoma coach Mark Daigneault had nothing to say before Tuesday’s In-Season tournament game at Minnesota, which they lost 106-103.
Giddey was targeted throughout the evening by the vociferous Timberwolves fans, who jeered the young Boomers star whenever he touched the ball.
The Melburnian played 28 minutes of court time for 10 points, six rebounds and one assist.
Giddey is averaging 12 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game for an Oklahoma City team that is off to an 11-6 start. He has started both games since the accusations were made — which ended in defeats.
He was the youngest NBA player to record a triple-double at 19 years and 84 days and the first player since Hall of Fame member Oscar Robertson in 1961 to record three consecutive triple-doubles as a rookie.
Giddey was the number six overall pick in the 2021 draft and was named to the All-Rookie second team during the 2021-2022 season. Last season, he averaged 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists.
At the World Cup this past summer, he averaged a team-high 19.4 points for an Australia team that went 3-2.
The 2021 NBL rookie of the year is a key part of the Boomers’ hopes of improving on their historic bronze medal in Tokyo at next year’s Paris Olympics.
AAP/AP