Chicago Bulls star guard Josh Giddey is one step closer to returning to the floor.
Chicago Bulls star guard Josh Giddey is one step closer to returning to the floor. On Sunday, the Bulls announced that the 6-foot-8 Australian guard would be assigned to the Windy City Bulls of the G League.
Chicago will be taking on the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, and before the matchup, Giddey's injury status was updated to "Doubtful," the first time in several weeks we have received any sort of concrete update on the guard's status.
Giddey left the Bulls matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 29, having played 18 minutes when he initially felt the hamstring issue that has resulted in his lengthy absence. He had 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and was 3-10 from the field when he left the game, which the Bulls eventually went on to lose 136-101. Giddey was struggling shooting that game, and the previous two before it, which were two sides of a back-to-back set against the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks. Giddey shot 40% or worse from the field in both of those games, on top of making only 3-13 from 3-point range over that same stretch.
I bring this up only because one has to wonder was the hamstring issue bothering Giddey before we eventually found out about it at the end of December, as he was routinely having solid shooting nights before his last played stretch. It also possible fatigue was simply setting in, as Giddey does possess a career-high usage rate, and has been doing a lot of heavy lifting for a Bulls team in lack of dependable scorers. On the season, Giddey is averaging 19.2 PPG, 8.9 RPG , 9.0 APG and shooting 38.6% from 3-point range, all career-highs.
Assuming Giddey does not suit up on Sunday, his next chance to play will come Tuesday at home against the Los Angeles Clippers, or Thursday on the road at the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Bulls then have a pair of games in Chicago against the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, before a road trip that has a game in Chicago against the Miami Heat sandwiched in between.
Chicago will likely be as cautious as possible with Giddey amidst his recovery. With Bulls guard Coby White, we already have an up close look at how nagging these lower body injuries can truly be, even when treated the utmost seriousness from the medical side.
The Bulls have went 4-5 over the nine games since Giddey has been completely out of the lineup, with their most recent matchup being a heartbreaking 112-109 loss to the Nets in which Chicago had some absolutely dreadful execution down the stretch, including getting an inbound pass stolen to essentially seal the game. It is quite easy to see how Giddey's playmaking prowess, and more importantly, his height, would've aided the Bulls down the stretch of that game.
Assigning Giddey to the Windy City Bulls will get him some valuable practice repetitions as he works his way back into playing shape, and the Bulls can only hope he is ready soon, as Giddey is the the "straw that stirs the drink" that is the Bulls offense.