The Chicago Bulls raised some eyebrows this offseason by re-signing Josh Giddey to a four-year, $100 million deal. Giddey has drawn his fair share of criticism over the years—and not without reason. The 23-year-old is anything but ordinary. Before arriving in Chicago, he struggled mightily as a shooter, and his defense often resembled a traffic cone more than an adequate stopper. Still, he’s a 6-foot-8 point guard with elite vision and feel for the game, an archetype that’s impossible to ignore.
Thus, the Bulls rewarded Giddey with a substantial extension, betting on his still-untapped upside and the belief that his post–All-Star break surge from last season would carry over. So far, so good. Through six games, Giddey is averaging 22.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, 8.7 assists, and 1.8 three-pointers—all would-be career highs.
Furthermore, Giddey is shooting 49.0 percent from the field and 40.7 percent from beyond the arc while getting to the free-throw line 6.0 times per contest. Despite the uptick in usage, he’s managed to increase his efficiency across the board.
Josh Giddey is cementing himself as a first-time All-Star
It’s been a tremendous start for the Aussie floor general—one that’s drawing attention across the league. ESPN even named Giddey one of its 10 “way-too-early first-time All-Stars.” In his piece, Kevin Pelton highlighted Giddey, alongside Deni Avdija, VJ Edgecombe, Jamal Murray, and Franz Wagner, as international-born players with a strong chance to make their All-Star debuts in 2026.
When discussing Giddey's All-Star chances, Pelton noted, "Although there are reasons to be skeptical of Chicago's start, if the Bulls are above .500, their chances of being rewarded with an All-Star improve dramatically."
Skepticism is fair. Chicago wasn’t expected to be an Eastern Conference contender, let alone open the season with five straight wins. Now, at 5–1, the Bulls are tied with the Philadelphia 76ers atop the East, an outcome few could’ve predicted, especially given how wary pundits were of both teams entering the year.
Regardless, Chicago’s early returns are promising. The Bulls have already knocked off three playoff teams from last season, along with the upstart Atlanta Hawks, who, unlike Chicago and Philadelphia, were projected to make the postseason. Their lone loss came against the New York Knicks, a team widely viewed as one of the East’s best.
Therefore, there’s reason to believe in the Bulls’ torrid start. Chicago currently ranks eighth in net rating, which bodes well for future endeavors. And according to Pelton, if the Bulls maintain anything close to this pace, or even just stay above .500, as he noted, Giddey will have a legitimate shot at his first All-Star nod.