Josh Giddey put his name alongside Michael Jordan's on Tuesday night when he became the first Chicago Bulls player since Jordan to record a triple-double in back-to-back games. The incredible performance helped the Bulls erase a 24-point deficit against the 76ers to pull off a thrilling 113-111 win at the United Center.
Anytime anyone does anything for the first time since Jordan, it's noteworthy. Jordan not only rewrote the history books—he transcended the sport and inspired generations of players. He made the Bulls one of the most iconic teams in sports history and led them to nearly a decade of greatness.
Giddey has a long way to go before he gets anywhere near the impact that Jordan made on Chicago and the game, but his play is starting to change the conversation around the Bulls.
Josh Giddey has been a revelation for the Bulls
Heading into the season, most folks thought the Bulls would be left behind in a weak Eastern Conference. They didn't make a splashy signing. They didn't get lucky in the lottery. The biggest move was shipping out locker room favorite Lonzo Ball for a defensive standout in Isaac Okoro. After a lengthy negotiation process, the team also re-signed Giddey to a four-year, $100 million contract, though reviews were mixed on the deal at the time.
Meanwhile, other East teams like the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks aggressively reshaped their rosters to try to make headway.
The Bulls' faith in Giddey has been rewarded, however. He's shown that his success leading the team last season after the Zach LaVine trade wasn't a fluke. He's more than just a distributor. On Tuesday, Giddey put both his shooting from range and his ability to attack the rim on display. Knowing Giddey can knock down a three, finish at the rim, or find an open man for an easy shot puts stress on the defense whenever he has the ball. And he's helped the Bulls improve on defense with rebounding prowess.
Put it all together, and Giddey makes everyone's job easier.
At 6-1, the Bulls now have the second-best record in the NBA, including more statement wins than Tuesday's comeback thriller against the Sixers. They've taken down the aforementioned Magic and Hawks and split a home-and-home set with the New York Knicks, who went to the Eastern Conference Finals last year.
Most importantly, Giddey continues to show night in and night out that his play is sustainable. He's not overly reliant on any one piece of his game. He's doing it all. And if he continues to do it all, the Bulls should be able to keep this hot start going and make a playoff push for the first time since 2022.