WATCH TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS with Megan Hustwaite weekly on Thursday from 7pm (AEST) via , or catch up via .
Sloan’s unfortunate exit set the wheels in motion for a stellar NBL season from the 18-year-old, culminating in his decision to enter the 2021 NBA Draft.
Giddey has been touted as the nation’s next star and could earn a first-round selection after averaging 11 points, 7.4 assists and 7.1 rebounds this season.
The point guard’s presence in the Sixers set-up has only improved with each passing performance, having pounced on the opportunities afforded to him by coach Conner Henry.
“At the start (of the season) we had Donald Sloan and he was our point guard,” Giddey told Megan Hustwaite during the latest episode of TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS.
“But then things didn't really work out for him and he left and that's kind of where it opened up new doors for me.
“Conner Henry just gave me the ball and said, ‘this is going to be your team, you’re going to run it’, and I've kind of taken the opportunity and made the most of it.
“Before then, me and Sloan were splitting minutes and it was a bit tougher for me because I knew I had another stud point guard in Donald, who was right there behind me.
“Him leaving kind of opened the doors up for me.
“As much as I loved playing with him – he was an awesome guy and we have a really good relationship – it was kind of a blessing in disguise for me because it allowed me to expand my game and have a bigger role in the team.”
Sloan joined the Sixers after amassing over 200 games in the NBA, and though Giddey initially found time “tough” behind his more experienced teammates, he soon found his feet.
“At the start, it was tough,” he admitted.
“Obviously as a young kid coming into one of the best leagues in the world with, you know, veterans all around me, you kind of got to start from the bottom and work your way up again.
“It was tough for me because every team I've ever been on as a junior; I was the guy on that team.
“I had to learn that there's guys around me that have been playing for 10, 15 years and you got to respect that and start from the ground and work your way up again, so that was the big learning curve for me.
“Once I came around to that and found my role within our team, it's been smooth sailing from there.
“My time at Adelaide has been good. The guys were awesome, they welcomed me with open arms and the club’s been awesome. Coaches; everyone involved has been really good and supportive, so I've loved my time here.”
Giddey's interview is part of an SBS series - TAB Courtside 1v1, which gives fans a chance to get to know more about the unique personalities from the NBA, WNBA, NBL and WNBL, which help shape basketball in Australia.
Hustwaite, who has been covering all levels of Australian basketball for the past 13 years as a reporter, commentator and journalist, will helm the weekly show – every Thursday at 7pm (AEST) via - where she interviews stars of the past, present and future.
SBS will again broadcast multiple regular-season NBA games per week in HD on SBS VICELAND and streamed live via SBS On Demand. Plus, every game of the upcoming 2020-21 NBL season will be LIVE, FREE and in HD via SBS On Demand, with select games also live on SBS VICELAND.
