During media availability at NBA All-Star Weekend, LeBron James offered high praise for Josh Giddey, singling out the Chicago Bulls guard as one of the Australian players who has made a strong impression on him this season. When asked by NBA Australia about the progress of Aussie talent across the league, James delivered a glowing assessment of Giddey’s development since his arrival in Chicago.
“I think Josh Giddey continues to get better and better,” James said. “I think his development since he has gotten to Chicago, his knock when he left OKC was his ability to shoot the ball. Now he’s shooting the ball. You can’t just sag off him, you can’t just lay off of him and dare him to shoot. He is actually shooting the ball at a high clip. Obviously, he’s a big guard. He pushes the pace with a lot of steam. So, he continues to get better and better, and I think Chicago has a really good player in him.”
The comments from James underscore a significant step forward for Giddey, particularly as a shooter. During his rookie season with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Giddey shot just 26 percent from beyond the arc. Now in his fifth NBA season and second with the Chicago Bulls, he has raised that number to 36 percent, a notable improvement that has forced defenses to respect his perimeter game.
That growth has translated into production across the board. Giddey is averaging 18.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 8.8 assists this season, putting him on the doorstep of a triple-double average. While the Bulls’ season has been marked by inconsistency and roster turnover, Giddey’s individual performance has remained a steady bright spot. His play has largely justified the four-year, $100 million contract Chicago committed to him this past offseason.
At just 23 years old, Giddey remains far from his prime. His size, court vision, and improved shooting touch suggest his ceiling may still be rising. If his development continues at its current pace, a full-season triple-double average does not feel out of reach in the coming years. More importantly for Chicago, he has shown the ability to lead, organize an offense, and elevate those around him, traits the franchise has long searched for in a foundational piece.
Praise from one of the greatest players in NBA history only adds to that momentum. For a young player navigating heightened expectations and a franchise in transition, validation from James carries weight. It also offers Bulls fans a reason for optimism at a time when the team’s direction has often felt uncertain.
Looking ahead, maintaining this upward trajectory will be crucial. Recent trade deadline moves have placed Giddey even more firmly in the spotlight, alongside fellow young cornerstone Matas Buzelis. The responsibility of helping pull the Bulls out of mediocrity is no small task, but when “The King” sees the vision, it is hard not to believe Chicago may finally be building around the right player.