"That was one thing I wish I could have back," Giddey said of any anonymity he once had.

"It is special though because as I tell kids, I was in their position not long ago when I was listening to my idols, and now I'm in a position to give back to those kids, and hopefully inspire them to reach the NBA or the NBL or whatever their goals may be.

"So it is awesome to see that. That was one of the things I was most excited to do in coming back."

Fans can't get enough of the 19-year-old since he's been back on home soil, flocking to see the NBA Global Academy alum at meet-and-greets between his many basketball camp stops around the country.

The sixth overall pick in last year's NBA Draft took the basketball world by storm this season - fittingly - with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

He emerged as the most exciting new Australian NBA player since Ben Simmons, with his superb passing skills and basketball IQ lauded by everyone from US media to LeBron James.

Giddey made NBA history as the youngest ever player to score a triple-double and was named the best rookie of the month in the Western Conference four times.

Basketball fans in Australia probably already knew the trajectory Giddey was on after his rookie of the year season playing for the Adelaide 36ers as part of the NBL Next Stars program which helped catapult him into the NBA.

Having impressed in 54 NBA games before a hip complaint ended his season prematurely, Giddey is primed to take things up a notch in year two.

"The hip is good, I'm healthy and ready for a full off-season," Giddey said while in Melbourne.

"It was a fun year. I wasn't sure what my role was going to be or how many minutes I was going to play, but as the year went on my role was pretty solidified. I started and played pretty major minutes for a rookie.

"So I loved the first year and definitely looking forward to having a bigger one next year... I think we can surprise a few people."

While in Australia he's relishing the opportunity to spend time with friends and family, watch his beloved Hawthorn Hawks, and even attend the NBL Finals, which he still follows religiously from the US.

"Being able to talk to people in a normal timezone is good as well," Giddey joked.

"The time difference sucks because NBL games start at two to four in the morning, so some nights I'll try and stay up or wake up to watch the games, but I still love the NBL and I was really excited to get to a few games while I'm here."

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