Josh Giddey continues to play for the Oklahoma City Thunder because he can’t be suspended over an ‘allegation alone,’ NBA commissioner Adam Silver said amid a criminal probe into claims the Australian basketball star had an inappropriate relationship with a minor. 

Giddey, 21, is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a teenager from California after photos and videos surfaced on social media last month.

‘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‘. 

‘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.’ 

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Josh Giddey can’t be suspended on ‘allegation alone’ 

Giddey is under investigation for allegedly having an intimate relationship with a minor 

Pictures and videos of Giddey with the teenager surfaced on social media in late November 

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Giddey has appeared in all of the Thunder’s six games since the allegations were first reported. 

Giddey and his team have continued to stay quiet about the situation as the investigation continues. When a reporter asked Giddey about the allegations during a media scrum last month, Giddey said he understood why the question was raised and said nothing else.

‘Yeah, I mean I understand the question obviously,’ Giddey told the reporter. ‘But there’s no further comment right now.’

Thunder coach Mark Daigneault was also asked about the allegations and explained how it is something for the NBA to handle. 

‘Just with the information we have at this point, that’s the decision that we’ve made (to keep playing him),’ Daigneault said. ‘It’s really not even a decision, to be honest with you. It’s obviously a league matter at this point so the ball’s in their court on that.’ 

Giddey was heavily booed in Minnesota during the Thunder’s 106-103 loss to the Timberwolves on November 28. Giddey also got the same reception in Houston during Wednesday’s 110-101 loss to the Rockets.

Meanwhile, Australian cereal company Weet Bix, who have sponsored Giddey since 2021, have removed him from their social media accounts.