Josh Giddey will not be charged in connection with allegations of an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl. A source from the Newport Beach Police Department informed TMZ that the case is officially closed as no evidence was found to support the claims against the 21-year-old Oklahoma City Thunder guard. The lack of individuals willing to speak on the matter contributed to Giddey being cleared of any charges.
Last November, accusations against the emerging Australian basketball star arose when photos of him with an alleged minor circulated online. The caption accompanying the photos reportedly included explicit language. Despite Oklahoma's age of consent being 16, the age of the girl at the time of the photo remains unknown.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver addressed why Giddey was not suspended from playing in December on NBA Today, stating, "I can't think of many circumstances where we've suspended a player based on an allegation alone." Silver explained the league's consistent approach of waiting for both a police investigation and a parallel league investigation before taking action. He emphasized the importance of respecting the rights of the player, especially when a criminal investigation is involved, and highlighted the collaborative efforts with the players association under such circumstances.
