NBA rookie Josh Giddey injured in Summer League debut

Young Australian basketball star Josh Giddey has shown a flash of his undoubted talent before suffering an ankle injury in his first NBA Summer League appearance for Oklahoma City.

The 200cm tall point guard was taken at pick No.6 in last month's NBA draft and suited up in the Thunder's 76-72 win over Detroit in Las Vegas on Monday morning (AEST).

Giddey drove to the basket for a dunk on the opening play but sprained his left ankle just three minutes into the game.

He tried to play through the injury but completed just five minutes on court.

The Thunder have three days before their next game against New Orleans on Thursday morning (AEST).

It is unclear whether Giddey will be given the green light to play, but the Thunder will no doubt take a cautious approach with the 18-year-old during the Summer League.

Giddey was named the NBL Rookie of the Year last season after a standout campaign with the Adelaide 36ers before joining fellow Australians Luc Longley, Ben Simmons, Dante Exum, Thon Maker and Andrew Bogut as a top-10 NBA draft pick.

The Victorian missed out on selection in the 12-man Boomers squad that went on to make history by claiming a bronze medal in Tokyo, but has been projected as a key part of the national team's future by national team coach Brian Goorjian.