Adam Silver said the NBA is following its own precedent in dealing with Josh Giddey.
The Thunder guard has continued to play while being investigated for an alleged inappropriate relationship with an underage girl, and the NBA commissioner said it’s in line with how the league deals with legal situations.
“I can’t think of many circumstances where we’ve suspended a player based on an allegation alone,” Silver said on ESPN’s “NBA Today” on Friday.
“In this case, so we have an allegation and then you have a police investigation and then a parallel league investigation. I also add that, where there is a criminal investigation, we take a back seat… that impacts how the players and players association can work with us because of course the player needs to protect his rights.
“I’m not going to say never ever, but I think this is the path we’ve consistently followed in the past.”
Giddey, 21, is alleged to have spent a night with the girl, then 16, in 2021 after they met at a club in Oklahoma City, and broke things off with her after learning her age.
The Australian basketballer is under investigation by Newport Beach police, as well as the NBA.
The girl at the center of the allegations and her family have reportedly refused to speak to police and hired famed attorney Gloria Allred.
Neither Giddey nor Thunder representative have offered comment on the situation.
He has not missed a game this season, averaging 11.8 point, 5.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists over 20 contests.
The Thunder (13-7) face off against the Warriors on Friday night in front of a home crowd that applauded him on Nov. 25, though he was also booed every time he touched the ball three nights later in Minnesota.