Thunder’s Josh Giddey will not face costs as police shut investigation

Police in Newport Seaside, California, is not going to pursue costs in opposition to Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard Josh Giddey after closing an investigation into allegations that he had an improper relationship with an underage woman, in keeping with an announcement the division launched Wednesday evening.

“After a radical and exhaustive examination, we now have accomplished our investigation into data that was circulating on social media involving Josh Giddey,” the assertion learn. “Our detectives have reviewed all the out there data and had been unable to corroborate any felony exercise associated to Mr. Giddey.”

The allegations in opposition to Giddey surfaced on social media in late November. In a since-deleted put up, an nameless social media consumer mentioned a lady who’s seen with Giddey in movies and images was a highschool junior on the time. The social media account has since been deactivated.

The Newport Seaside police opened an investigation days after the allegations surfaced, releasing an announcement on Nov. 29 that mentioned, partly, that the division was “actively searching for extra data associated to those allegations and pursuing all leads and proof to acquire the information of the case.”

The NBA additionally was trying into the allegations, and spokesperson Michael Bass instructed The Related Press on Wednesday that the league is conscious of the findings within the police inquiry and is “persevering with our assessment” of the matter.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver did, nonetheless, say in early December that the league workplace’s investigation would “take a again seat” to the Newport Seaside police’s course of.

“Typically, we’ll work with regulation enforcement to the extent they may share with us the knowledge they’ve,” Silver mentioned throughout his Las Vegas information convention earlier than the NBA’s in-season match remaining. “We will study from that. We collect no matter data is offered to us, in working alongside a police division on this case, or a D.A. So long as they are saying that we’re not interfering with their investigation, we do what we are able to on the similar time. However usually, we fall in behind any investigation after which go from there.”

Giddey, 21, has declined to remark in regards to the allegations. In late November, Oklahoma Metropolis coach Mark Daigneault referred to the allegations as a “private matter” and declined additional remark aside from saying the group made the choice for Giddey to proceed enjoying primarily based on the information the Thunder have.

Giddey, who has been routinely booed in highway video games for the reason that allegations surfaced, is averaging 11.8 factors, 6.1 rebounds and 4.6 assists per recreation for the 27-13 Thunder.