Josh Giddey is finally showcasing what the Chicago Bulls have envisioned about him.
After commencing his first season in the Windy City on a slow start, it appears that everything is now working according to plan for the Australian sensation.
Following the midseason trade departure of star hotshot Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings, Josh Giddey saw himself taking a major step for the Chicago Bulls.
He is now making the most out of this as the team’s newest lead guard, showing the trade that sent Alex Caruso to OKC may not be a total disaster.
Giddey amassed high hopes and expectations as the Bulls’ prized acquisition from last offseason.
After enduring a controversial and relatively rough campaign with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2023-24, Giddey sought for a new environment in which he eventually landed in Chicago at the expense of Alex Caruso. The rising star is taking his opportunity.
Over the past nine games, Giddey has been the absolute driving force of the Bulls, averaging 23.1 points, 10.9 rebounds and 8.4 assists. He’s been sizzling hot from the field, shooting 52.2 percent from the field and 52.5 percent from the three-point land (per 4.4 attempts).
He has been so good that he managed to enter the rarified air, becoming the first-ever Bulls guard aged 22 or younger since the great Michael Jordan to register consecutive games with 25+ points and 10+ rebounds.
On their March 10 matchup against the Indiana Pacers, Giddey dropped 29 markers, 10 boards, and four dimes en route to the Bulls’ 121-103 victory, further hammering a statement on this feat he achieved to join the all-time legend.
Unfortunately, as he made a history of his own and will likely to do something again, Giddey went down with an apparent ankle injury.
As he drove hard for a close shot, Giddey landed awkwardly on his right ankle with around seven minutes left in regulation against the Pacers. In pain, he was escorted to the sidelines and ultimately entered the Bulls locker room in which the team ruled him out for the rest of the game.
In his postgame presser, head coach Billy Donovan confirmed that Giddey sustained a right ankle sprain, the same injury he had back in 2024 Paris Olympic Games for Australia.
“He had a game a couple games ago where he kind of rolled it a little bit, but not too bad,” Donovan said.
“This one you could just tell, it was pretty painful the way he came up. So, obviously I’m concerned, but I just don’t know to what degree it is.”
In the wake of his groundbreaking performance and tear for the Bulls, we can only hope that it’s nothing serious at the side of Giddey.
