'It's on us:’ OKC Thunder Guard Josh Giddey Speaks On Team's Rebounding Woes

The Oklahoma City Thunder has struggled to rebound this season — a trend that's appeared in all four of the team's losses thus far — and not only is Josh Giddey is aware of that, but he's ready to step up as a leader to help fix that.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey might have taken a slight downtick in his on-court production, but he hasn't stepped down as a leader in any way. 

Granted, leadership to the outside NBA world and leadership within an organization are two very different things. If you went based on statistics alone, Giddey hasn't been playing well. How could he be a leader? 

That's not how it works, however. If you asked his teammates, they'd likely tell you that the third-year veteran is continuing to work on being the best player he can be.

And if you asked him, he'd say the same thing and name you multiple areas that he could improve.

"We have to get it instilled in us that when a shot goes up, we're going to the glass to get rebounds," Giddey said following the Thunder's 105-98 loss to the Kings. "Last year, we were smaller, but we rebounded the ball better. This year we've struggled with [that] ... and it's on us smaller guys. We need to get in there, be physical and make our bigs' lives easier."

"Smaller guys" is an interesting prospect considering that Giddey stands at 6-foot-8, but against a center like Chet Holmgren, it certainly is. 

Oklahoma City was out-rebounded by the Kings 38-52, which certainly told the story down the stretch, as Sacramento even grabbed the game's final two rebounds — both offensive, at that. Competing on the glass was a big part of why the Thunder fell short, and it's been that way all season. Against the Nuggets, Oklahoma City was out rebounded 29-48. Against the Pelicans? 49-58. Same story against the Warriors. 

Height does play a role in that, but apart from it literally adding a stat to the box score, it's also a way to make an early statement, which Giddey emphasized.

"Being a smaller team ... you have to throw that first punch," Giddey said. "There's times where we do it, and there's times where we don't, but it has to be a 48-minute thing. It has to be a consistent thing. Against these bigger, more-experienced teams, if we don't come out that way, a lot of teams will push us over."

Pushed over? The Thunder?

It's a strange prospect to imagine, but nonetheless, it happens and also serves as a reminder that Oklahoma City is a young squad. It has more to learn and more to improve on, but that doesn't mean it also isn't ready to take the next step. 

And like it or not, Giddey will be a part of the Thunder's learning curve. He is a team leader, after all.

"We're a tough team to stay with," Giddey said. "Just because of the abilities of guys on the floor that we have. We're a talented offensive team, but it's going to be the other end of the floor that [will] win us games."

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