The Chicago Bulls' not-so-active offseason was headlined by Josh Giddey's four-year, $100 million contract agreement, which solidifies him as the franchise's point guard of the future. Considering his age (22) and stat line after the All-Star break (21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, 9.3 assists), that's a team-friendly deal that will age like fine wine -- although not according to the folks at ESPN, who didn't include Giddey anywhere in their rankings of the top 100 NBA players.
In 70 games last year, the Australian floor general averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists. Those latter two numbers are both career highs. And after shooting a combined 31.0 percent from three on 3.3 attempts per game over his first three seasons, he knocked down 37.8 percent of his 4.0 triples a night in his first season with the Bulls.
Yet, somehow, he's nowhere to be found in ESPN's NBA Rank 2025. Um, what?
Josh Giddey inexcusably left out of ESPN's top 100 NBA player rankings
It's an inarguable fact that Giddey played like one of the best point guards in the league to close last season. He nearly averaged a triple-double over his last 19 contests, actually posting that stat line five times during that run, including a 28-point, 16-rebound, 11-assist game to cap his regular season.
Those performances don't happen unless you're an above-average player. Deep rotation guys don't have that kind of impact on games.
Giddey's ranked behind guards such as Devin Vassell and Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs and Christian Braun of the Denver Nuggets. Expanding that list beyond the guard position, he's apparently less talented, productive and valuable than players like P.J. Washington, Mitchell Robinson (who appeared in 17 regular-season games) and the always uninspiring Andrew Wiggins.
Among all guards who appeared in at least 60 games and played at least 25 minutes per contest, Giddey was seventh in average assists, ahead of names like Devin Booker, Darius Garland and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He was fifth in rebounds per game, better than Cade Cunningham and Scottie Barnes (and 0.5 behind Jayson Tatum, who's arguably a forward, not a guard).
That 38.7 percent 3-point accuracy mentioned above hovers around names like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who attempted 4.5 triples per game (Giddey took 4.0), and Jalen Brunson (6.1 3PA). He averaged as many steals as Garland, Donte DiVincenzo, Jaylen Brown and Anthony Edwards. You can argue he wasn't as impactful defensively, but you could also argue those players had far, far better defenders around them.
So sure, maybe Giddey isn't one of the best 50 players in the league right now (though he came in at No. 53 in the 2023 rankings). Maybe he's not even top 75. But excluding him from the top 100 is an utter travesty.