Oklahoma City Thunder player, Josh Giddey, has been cleared of any charges following an investigation into accusations of an inappropriate relationship with a minor. The Newport Beach Police Department has officially closed the case after being unable to find any corroborating evidence.
The investigation was launched in November after an anonymous social media user shared videos and photographs showing Giddey with a girl who was alleged to be a high school junior at the time. However, the social media account responsible for sharing the images has since been deactivated.
Giddey himself has yet to comment on the matter, but during a previous press conference, he refused to address the situation directly, stating, I understand the question obviously, but there’s no further comment right now.
Head coach of the Thunder, Mark Daigneault, also remained tight-lipped when news of the investigation surfaced, stating, Just with the information that we have at this point, that’s the decision that we’ve made.
Josh Giddey, a promising young player, emerged as one of the top prospects in the NBA Global Academy and trained at the Australian Institute of Sport. He signed with the Adelaide 36ers in March 2020 and became the nation’s first participant in the NBA’s Next Stars program. He had an impressive season, earning the title of NBL Rookie of the Year. Giddey was drafted sixth overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2021 NBA draft and signed a four-year, $27 million rookie contract.
With the case now closed and no charges filed, Giddey can continue his career with the Thunder without the cloud of suspicion hanging over him. The NBA will likely review the situation further and determine if any additional action or discipline is necessary. However, for now, the young player can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that he has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
