When the Chicago Bulls traded for Josh Giddey, the move raised eyebrows. A gifted passer, yes. A jumbo guard with rebounding instincts, sure. But a legit shooting threat? Not quite. That was the narrative—until now.
In just one season, Giddey has rewritten the scouting report. What was once considered the weakest part of his game has become the Bulls’ biggest offensive unlock. The transformation didn’t happen by accident—it’s the product of belief, structure, and the kind of organizational patience that Oklahoma City didn’t have the capacity to offer.
The catch-and-shoot evolution (the Bulls’ vision)
This is where everything changed. Giddey’s improved three-point shooting has fundamentally redefined his gravity on the floor. During his OKC years, his stroke was a work in progress: 26.3 percent (2021–22), 32.5 percent (2022–23), and 33.7 percent (2023–24). In his Bulls debut season, that number skyrocketed to 37.6 percent on four attempts per game—and since January 1, he’s been torching defenses at an incredible 43.8 percent clip.
The key? Context. In Oklahoma City, Giddey was usually the second ball-handler next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He had a hard time finding his rhythm without the ball. Chicago changed that. They put him in more catch-and-shoot situations and off-ball spacing plays.
This allowed the Bulls to use his size and vision in entirely different ways. Giddey’s confidence on wide-open threes has exploded, too: from roughly 25.3 percent as a rookie to 35.5 percent by 2023–24, and now pushing into the high-30s. It’s no longer a surprise to see defenders closing late—and paying for it.
A Complete Offensive Awakening
The leap in shooting didn’t just change his stat line; it opened up his entire game. Giddey’s passing — 8.0 assists per game this season—now punishes defenses that dare to close out late. When defenders stay home, he threads cross-court passes and pocket dimes into spaces that didn’t exist a year ago.
Rebounding remains another separator: 8.8 rebounds per game so far from your starting guard is a weapon, not a luxury. It fuels Chicago’s top-tier pace, where Giddey’s outlet passing turns rebounds into layups before opponents even set their defense.
And the numbers speak for themselves—a career-high 32-point game and his first triple-double of the season (23 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists) have validated both his growth and the Bulls’ vision. Through the first five games, he’s averaged 22.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists, joining Scottie Pippen and Guy Rodgers as the only Bulls in franchise history to hit those marks.
The Bulls’ System and their belief
So why did this work in Chicago when it stalled in OKC? Because the Bulls believed first. They gave Giddey something invaluable—a clear role as the primary initiator. Billy Donovan’s modernized offence, built on pace, downhill creation, and quick decision-making, aligns perfectly with Giddey’s instincts.
When he signed his four-year, $100 million extension in September 2025, the message was clear: Chicago isn’t guessing. They’re investing.
As Giddey said himself in an interview, "I never had any worries I wouldn’t be here. They embraced me from Day 1—teammates, front office, the fans—it felt like home really quickly." That belief matters. In a league obsessed with short-term results, the Bulls chose to develop, not doubt. And that patience has turned Josh Giddey into precisely what they envisioned: a modern, position-bending creator who can now beat you from deep beyond the arc.