In January, the Newport Beach Police Department closed its investigation into Thunder guard/forward Josh Giddey. He was not charged with a crime after no corroborating evidence was found.
Sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the NBA has closed its own investigation into Giddey after reaching a similar conclusion (Twitter link).
In November, a series of posts on social media accused Giddey of having an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl who is a student at Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach. That prompted both the NBA and the Newport Beach Police Department to open investigations into the claims.
However, TMZ reported at the time that the alleged minor and her family were unwilling to cooperate with law enforcement officials. Both investigations are now closed.
In addition to the off-court allegations, Giddey had an up-and-down season on the court as well, culminating in being benched in the Western Conference semifinals against Dallas. The Thunder lost the playoff series in six games.
“There’s been days where you don’t feel like getting out of bed for a number of reasons,” Giddey said during his exit interview, per Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman. “As I said, I’m just lucky to have people around me that care, that were there for me. Coming in the gym every day, seeing my teammates, that helps.”
The sixth overall pick of the 2021 draft, Giddey will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason. The 21-year-old made it clear he’d be thrilled to stay with the team long-term and he’s determined to improve his shooting and defense going forward, according to Lorenzi.
“I can’t wait to get back next season and show that I’m a different player,” Giddey said, “and to never let what happened this series happen again.”
All you #haters who said Giddey should be behind bars…where are you now? Yeah, thought so
Lol defending a pedo is crazy, trust me we still remember
Actually i’m not defending a pedo and literally everyone agrees with me. That’s the point of this article. But have fun trashing celebrities to feel better about yourself.
Also funny how the loudest detractors are usually the first ones caught doing the same thing lol
Lol he doesn’t know you bro
Cool story
There isn’t even a possibility of pedophilia in these allegations. I know they don’t teach the three R’s any longer, but I never imagined biology wouldn’t make the cut.
he’s not a pedo with a 16-17 yera old ffs
pedo = child, not teenager
1. she wasnt 16-17. she was 14-15.
2. you’re arguing meaningless semantics. everyone uses the term “pedo” for predators who do something with a child. no one, including yourself, would call josh an “ephebophilic” person (which might be the dictionary correct term.) but you’d prefer to argue semantics rather than point out he did something with a kid.
btw, Complainant not cooperating with authorities ≠ innocence of defendent. but you are acting like he’s found innocent when its simply a technicality that they cant charge him.
what likely happened was giddey decided to pay her to be quiet… does that sound like something innocent people do?
He was 19, she was 17 (she told him she was 18). When he found out her real age he ended it. It’s probably a bit unfair to be labelled a pedo.
She was 15
Of course she was 15 at one stage, in her case it was two years before she met Giddey.
she wasnt 17. she was 14. he didnt “end” anything, it was 1 night and the pic went viral because she posted it.
OJ was found innocent too, so whats your point?
Sue the girl/family for defamation. Could have ended the kids career before it really started. Still has done irreparable damage to his public reputation.
Except they did him a favor by not cooperating. Based on the public information available if they cooperate he is likely in serious trouble with the league at minimum. But the family likely realized by speaking up they would just shine a spotlight on themselves and decided it wasn’t worth it.
No feasible path there. Unless he can find a district attorney with enough time on his hands to bring a criminal extortion or related charge against the family, he’s without any practical legal remedy. The family covered themselves quite well, suggesting they might not be rookies.
Complainant not cooperating with authorities ≠ innocence of defendent. you realize that right? giddey was not found innocent. they just werent able to create a case because the victim did not cooperate with cops.
Drake busy taking notes on what Giddey’s arguments were
Complainant not cooperating with authorities ≠ innocence of defendent
Doesn’t mean defendant is guilty either though. And in the US you are innocent until proven guilty. So technically it does. Next.
Right. Because OJ and Michael Jackson didn’t do anything either.
Why are you making it about race?
Dang bro, you will say anything to protect the diddler huh.
its obvious giddey paid her to be quiet. the victim even got gloria allred as her lawyer to get a big paycheck from settlement with giddey. the fact that you cant see that is hilariously delusional.
No complainant or defendent on these facts. When you understand why, you’ll have your first clues as to what might have happened here.
He later bragged about it on social media. The shame is on the team and owners for not suspending him or any consequences.
Proud of Josh for getting through a tough year. Great year for thunder. So many positives to his game yet one again, people focus on the negatives…he is not being used in a way that he can play to his strengths…he is not a shooting guard.
Definately he could have handled the situation better by not posting about the girl, but I guess he will learn a lesson by that. Everyone makes mistakes. Good luck to him next year, as much as I love the thunder, would be great to see him thrive elsewhere
wow youre proud of a pedo? thats weird but ok. she looked very underage in the pic, so him claiming “not to know” is BS.
Sorry. I must have happened into the wrong thread.
So it’s not statutory if the parents consent? Although they probably got a fair bit of hush money after it first leaked…
With the loopholes in the US justice system it’s little wonder so many take the law into their own hands…
It’s no different to the lame fines the NBA doles out to star players… It’s set up only punishes those with a lack of funding…
The family was smart….stay out of the limelight…….possible very mature 17 year old….no her first rodeo
i’m more worried about the terminology of benched. benched would be he didn”t play. he still played, but came of the bench.
Jazz bound.