Josh Giddey, the 21 years old guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, was recently involved in an investigation concerning allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a minor. Considered one the more attractive NBA players, the Josh Giddey issue first came to light in November 2023, when social media posts about Giddey’s alleged inappropriate relationship went viral. There was a lot of evidence, too; several instagram stories, Tik Tok reels, and online video chats, leaked, it certainly seemed as if Giddey was in an active relationship with the young girl in question.

Despite the allegations, Giddey continued to play for the Thunder throughout the investigation to angry fans around the league. Are these fans wrong? Maybe not, but let’s keep in mind a couple things: these are still allegations and there are plenty of other NBA players that have committed crimes, To some it seems like cherry-picking morality.

There are a many reputable, high quality platforms where one can video chat with girls of legal age; ones that ensure privacy, secure and are respectful to all parties involved. Giddey wasn’t very thoughtful about his far-reaching fame. On that, just so we’re all on the same page; in terms of the age of consent in the United States, it varies by state. Out of the 50 American states and District of Columbia, the majority has a legal age of consent of 16 years old. Including the state where the Thunder play, there are 30 states (and D.C.) where sixteen is the age of consent which are mostly scattered in the south, Midwest and East Coast.

Twelve other states have set the legal age of consent at 18, and the remaining eight states have their legal age of consent at 17 years old.

Either way, Giddey has faced intense scrutiny during this period for reportedly dating a 15-year old girl. Despite the allegations, Giddey continued to play for the Thunder and was roundly boo’ed at every arena he played at.  With all the Aussie’s off-court issues, this hasn’t affected his play or the Oklahoma City Thunder’s winning ways at least according to most NBA betting Australia sites.

When asked about the allegations, the young Aussie refrained from commenting, acknowledging awareness of the question but declining to respond further. The Thunder’s head coach, Mark Daigneault, also declined to comment, labeling it a personal matter.

The NBA, which had started its investigation parallel to the police inquiry, took a step back once the criminal investigation commenced. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, speaking on ESPN’s “The Jump,” explained that the NBA rarely suspends players based solely on allegations.

“I can’t think of many circumstances where we’ve suspended a player based on an allegation alone. And in this case, we have an allegation and you have a police investigation and a parallel league investigation,” Silver told The Jump. The league’s commish emphasized the league’s approach of allowing due process, especially in cases involving ongoing criminal investigations.

The involvement of high-profile attorney Gloria Allred, known for her work on cases involving women’s rights, was also reported. She was reportedly hired by the family of the minor involved in the allegations against Giddey.

Giddey Investigation Closed… For Now

After a thorough investigation, the Newport Beach Police Department announced that no criminal charges would be filed against Giddey and they would close the case. The decision was partly influenced by the minor and her family’s unwillingness to cooperate with the investigators. This inability to corroborate any criminal activity related to Mr. Giddey presented a significant obstacle in validating the claims against Giddey.

Following the closure of the police investigation, reports indicated that the NBA would continue its investigation into the matter. This continued inquiry by the NBA aligns with its policy to ensure all aspects of the allegations are thoroughly examined.

The Giddey case highlights the complexities involved in high-profile allegations, especially in the sports world, where public figures like Giddey are under constant scrutiny. In some circles, it also underscores the importance of due process and the challenges faced in legal investigations when cooperation from key parties is limited.