Chicago Bulls' Josh Giddey Talks New Contract, Long-Term Future

Gavin Dorsey

Sep 29, 2025, 20:00

Gavin Dorsey

Sep 29, 2025, 20:00

Updated at: Sep 29, 2025, 20:00

For much of the summer, point guard Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls were in a contract stalemate.

The team's move to acquire Giddey outright in exchange for Alex Caruso in 2024 showed that Chicago had faith in the player he could become. Giddey fulfilled Arturas Karnisovas and Billy Donovan's belief when he nearly averaged a triple-double after the All-Star break, but the Bulls were reluctant to reward Giddey with the contract he desired in restricted free agency. Instead, the almost-23-year-old remained unsigned until September 9.

Chicago and Giddey agreed to a four-year, $100 million contract that is fully guaranteed. Although the negotiations took a long time, were rumored to be frustrating for the guard and fell short of the $30 million annual salary that he was reportedly seeking, Giddey revealed at Monday's Media Day that there were no hard feelings between him and the organization.

"It's negotiation, it's how it goes," Giddey said. "Not just for me, but for every free agent. It's kind of the nature of the business. Finishing the season, I knew that was what was going to happen. Never any hard feelings. This is where I wanted to be, very happy to be locked in for another four years and I'm glad that the deal got done."

Giddey said that, throughout the impasse, he was confident the two parties would agree to a new contract. The former No. 6 overall pick by Oklahoma City in 2021 reaffirmed that Chicago was where he wanted to play all along, which doesn't come as a surprise, given how he played last season.

Mar 6, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) reacts after beating the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Following the Zach LaVine trade to Sacramento, Giddey experienced a breakout as the Bulls' primary ball-handler. The 6-foot-8 point guard averaged 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists over 19 outings after the All-Star Game, improving his shooting to a 50% clip overall and 45.7% rate from deep.

Giddey said he felt he was trying to fit in too much when he first arrived in Chicago, but got much more comfortable playing his own game as the season progressed. With his contract situation now resolved, Giddey now has a big weight off his back heading into his fifth year.

"It is a weird feeling, because you try not to think about it, but you wouldn't be human if you didn't," Giddey said. "It wasn't at the forefront of my mind, but it's always kind of lingering. You start to play bad, it creeps into your mind, 'I'm extension-eligible at the end of the season, what's going to happen?' I think I did a good job in the second half of the year just playing it out, just playing basketball. I'm glad it got done and I can put it behind me."

The Bulls clearly believe Giddey is not just an essential roster piece now, but a key to the team's long-term future as well. In a wide-open Eastern Conference, he'll have the opportunity to prove that his late improvement was a sign of things to come, not an anomaly.

Chicago Bulls' Josh Giddey Talks New Contract, Long-Term Future