The Josh Giddey comparisons are nothing new for Taran Armstrong.
The Cairns Taipans recruit is happy to hear them though, given he cut short his flourishing college career to play in the National Basketball League in an attempt to join Australia's latest breakout basketball star in the NBA.
The 196cm-tall guard comes from a strong Tasmanian basketball family and, like Giddey, built composure and craft playing against men from a young age.
The pair, along with Dyson Daniels, were teammates in the NBA Global Academy in Canberra before Armstrong headed to California Baptist University.
In two years there he established a reputation as one of college basketball's best passers, before opting out of a move to a powerhouse division one school and instead suiting up for the Taipans.
In two games at this week's NBL Blitz on the Gold Coast the 21-year-old has done his best Giddey impression.
The pair carry the ball with similar composure and even share a resemblance thanks to their clean-cut look and dark mop of hair.
"I get that a lot," Armstrong told AAP of his likeness to the Boomers and Oklahoma City star guard.
"We spent a lot of time together in the Academy and in Aussie camps.
"It is a little bit weird as he is one of my good mates and actually younger than me (by nine months).
"But having a guy who plays a similar way to myself, it's helpful to see their success.
"You can see yourself there a bit easier, rather than doing something that nobody's ever done."
Giddey skipped college to instead play a season with Adelaide and has rewritten the NBA record books in two seasons since being drafted by the Thunder.
"Unreal. It shows things can change super-quickly," Armstrong said.
"One thing about him is he's always been really smart with his decisions, where he's put himself and the platform, people he's surrounded himself with.
"Going to Adelaide was awesome for him. To make those decisions at a young age and believe in himself is so impressive and he's had a lot of success."
Armstrong hopes he's done the same with a move to the tropics under coach Adam Forde.
"Competition, that was a big deal," he said of his mindset in opting to join the Taipans.
"I had opportunity to go to other colleges, but the platform of the NBL - it's so highly touted by the NBA now. It's the best available competition and I wasn't going to be anywhere else.
"Fordey gives players belief, the green light to attack what they're good at.
"As long as I just be myself I'm more than capable of getting where I need to go. I'm that level of player."
