Josh Giddey (Hamstring) Expects to Make Bulls Return Thursday vs. Raptors

As the Bulls attempt to evaluate their future during the back half of the season, one of the team's key pieces is nearing a return to action.

Point guard Josh Giddey, Chicago's leading scorer and assister this season, told the media following practice on Wednesday that he expects to play in the Bulls' next game against Toronto. 

"Today was more live [practice], I went through everything, feeling good," Giddey said. "Me and Tre [Jones] have been playing 3-on-3 after some rounds of practice, so it wasn't our first introduction to live, but today, we went 5-on-5, full-court. I feel good."

The 23-year-old played and started in 30 of Chicago's first 32 games before suffering a left hamstring strain against Minnesota on Dec. 29. Giddey missed 11 games, returned to the Bulls for four games, then reaggravated the injury on Jan. 28 at Indiana.

Thursday's home game against the Raptors will mark the end of Giddey's eight-game absence. Assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr. — filling in for head coach Billy Donovan after his father's passing — hinted that Giddey would be on a minutes restriction.

Giddey is averaging career highs across the board during his second year in Chicago. The 6-foot-7 Australian posted 18.6 points, 8.8 assists and 8.6 rebounds per game while shooting 46.2% overall and 36.6% from deep over the first half of the season. Prior to his injury, Giddey was in contention to earn his first NBA All-Star selection.

However, the team Giddey is returning to looks far different than the one he last played with. His former backcourt partner in Coby White is now in Charlotte, Nikola Vucevic is in Boston and Ayo Dosunmu is in Minnesota. New additions Rob Dillingham, Anfernee Simons, Jaden Ivey and Collin Sexton all provide new opportunities for the Bulls to find the best fit alongside Giddey before the latter three each hit free agency in the summer.

"To have so many guys go and so many new guys come in, you guys can see, it's different," Giddey said. "It's going to take time to adapt to all these new faces and new playstyles. Fortunately, all the new guys we've brought in, they're all great guys, really buying in to what we're doing here. Hopefully, we can get this thing kicked off on the right foot after the All-Star break. I like the group that we've got, and we've got 27 games left to make something of it."

Giddey signed a four-year, $100 million contract with the Bulls last summer, locking him in as a long-term part of Chicago's future.