Newport Beach police investigate allegations NBA’s Josh Giddey had relationship with minor
Newport Beach police have launched an inquiry into NBA player Josh Giddey after allegations surfaced on social media that he had an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl, authorities said Tuesday.
Police provided few details about the ongoing investigation but said it involved a minor and that detectives were looking into whether a crime had occurred, said Sgt. Steve Oberon of the Newport Beach Police Department.
The police inquiry comes after the NBA said Friday the league had begun its own investigation into whether Giddey, 21, who plays for the Oklahoma City Thunder, had a relationship with a minor, CBS Sports reported.
An NBA spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Michael Guzman has been charged with four counts of lewd acts on a child over allegations by two former Woodrow Wilson High School girls’ basketball players.
Questions about Giddey’s possible involvement with a minor first emerged on the social media platform X, where pictures and videos began to spread online.
The images of Giddey with a female, who is allegedly underage, circulated online during Thanksgiving weekend.
Giddey declined to address the allegations on Friday.
“I understand the question, obviously, but no comment right now,” he said.
Giddey, who’s from Australia and is known to train in Irvine during the offseason, was in Oklahoma City’s starting lineup for two games since the allegations surfaced.
His next game with the Thunder is at home Thursday against the Lakers.
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