The Bulls are 6-1. There are many reasons for their quick turnaround from last season, but the number one reason is Josh Giddey.
Giddey is averaging 23.1 points, 10.0 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game; only Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic share those stats this season, but Giddey is doing it in fewer minutes, while also shooting over 40% from three.
No one is saying Giddey is as good as Jokic or Doncic, but that’s exactly how important he’s been to this Bulls team.
Number One Option
Giddey averaged similar numbers, 21/10/9, post All-Star break last season, which really means post trade deadline. During that stretch, he was the second option behind Coby White. White has missed the start of this season and will remain out for a couple of weeks, according to head coach Billy Donovan.
The Bulls have filled the scoring void by committee, with six players averaging double figures. One of them, Ayo Dosunmu, has been a key spark off the bench at 16 points per game but suffered an injury in the win over the Knicks.
Before Dosunmu’s injury, Giddey averaged just over 31 minutes per game and hadn’t played more than 33. Since then, he’s logged at least 37 minutes in each contest. The Bulls are leaning heavily on him, and he’s delivered. Both of Giddey’s triple-doubles this season came in the two games Dosunmu missed, and he scored his career high in the game Dosunmu got hurt.
With White sidelined, Giddey is clearly Chicago’s No. 1 option, not just statistically, but situationally. When the Bulls need a bucket, the ball finds his hands. That was clear during their 24-point comeback against the 76ers. It started when Giddey tipped a pass and scored a fast-break layup, then attacked the paint on the next possession for a smooth finish off the glass.
In crunch time, Giddey’s usage skyrocketed. Over the final three minutes, every Bulls possession, but one, either involved Giddey shooting or setting up the shooter. The offense runs through him, and his aggression fuels it.
Giddey Drives the Offense
One stat seems to be the reason for Giddey’s offensive production since the All-Star break last season: drives per game. He averaged 12.2 points per game on 8.9 drives per game before the All-Star break. After the break, those numbers soared to 21.2 points per game on 16 drives.
This season, he increased it even further. He is sixth in the league in drives per game at 17.6, trailing players like Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Cade Cunningham.
Nearly every Bulls possession begins with a Giddey drive and a paint touch. From there, he can finish, draw contact, or kick out to open shooters while the defense scrambles to rotate. A Giddey drive and kick just led to Nikola Vucevic‘s game-winning three.
Chicago is no doubt a better team when White and Dosunmu are playing, but until then, expect Giddey to play almost every minute. The Bulls face a tough stretch ahead with a back-to-back against the Bucks and Cavaliers, followed by the Spurs. All three rank in the top 10 in paint defense.
Keep an eye on whether Giddey adjusts his playstyle or continues to dominate even against tougher opponents.
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