Stiles Points: Josh Giddey-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Mathup Not Worth Overreacting to

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey are set to go Toe to Toe in the Olympics in 24 hours, but that matchup should not warrant overreactions.

Dec 26, 2023; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey (3) celebrates with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) after a play against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports / Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports

In just under 24 hours the NBA World will have a chance to do their favorite thing: Overreact. Team Canada (1-0) is set to face off with Team Australia (1-0) in an important Group A clash. Pushing to 2-0 in what is being deemed the Group of Death, offers a huge leg up for the victors in their attempt to medal at the Paris games.

This is the SEC of Olympic Basketball - it just means more in Oklahoma City, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lu Dort battle with their teammate-turned-foe Josh Giddey.

The Thunder elected to ship Giddey to Chicago to open up the NBA offseason in a swap that netted the Bricktown boys Alex Caruso. The defensive ace who strokes the trey ball at a 40 percent clip fits like a glove in Oklahoma City and Giddey is now primed to participate in a more palatable system for his skillset in the windy city.

So as these two unbeaten squads go toe-to-toe, it is inevitable that both Giddey and Gilgeous-Alexander will produce countless highlights along the way - all indications even point to the No. 6 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft playing the best basketball of his career in this setting, but that has no barring on the decision Oklahoma City made to tip-off the Summer.

Giddey from this Olympics through his time with the Bulls will continue to improve and produce at a higher clip than he ever did with the Thunder - and ever was going to do - this is not a case of the Bricktown boys giving up on a young player prematurely, it is a classic fit issue with the only fix being a change of scenery.

As Giddey dominates in the Olympic stage, it isn't time to retroactively grade the trade or swing your stance - he was never bound for this on-ball role in Bricktown. Watching as the 6-foot-8 guard dominates the ball, getting downhill to finish at the rim and put the ball in the ring was never going to be a reality with the Thunder.

Especially after the 21-year-old rejected a bench role with the Thunder in favor of a more prominent casting with his Eastern Conference squad.

Stiles Points

• Dort finding his way in the Team Canada starting five is a really good thing for the Oklahoma City Thunder
• Chet Holmgren is given the third-best odds to be the defensive player of the year which has a good shot of happening given how good the Thunder will be on that side of the floor this season.
• Yet another NBA legend tabbed Gilgeous-Alexander as the rightful NBA MVP after his runner-up season a year ago.
• The 2028 Olympics could be a must-watch in Oklahoma City with the Thunder talent that litter the games.

Song of the Day: Song and Dance Man by Johnny Paycheck

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