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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 22: Josh Giddey #3 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at the United Center on October 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers stand as the two best teams in the Eastern Conference, both at 5-1 so far. Before the season started, no one really expected either team to make much noise, and the Bulls are the ultimate underdog story.

Matas Buzelis is breaking out as a star. Ayo Dosunmu is a Sixth Man of the Year candidate. Nikola Vucevic remains talented and seems bought in. The Bulls are a high-level team from top to bottom.

Of course, most of the credit has to go to Josh Giddey. He ended his season hot last year and has picked up right where he left off. He is averaging career-highs across the board, has addressed his shooting weaknesses, and is playing winning basketball for the first time in his career.

Giddey thinks a former teammate had a lot to do with it.

GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 22: Nikola Vucevic #9 and Josh Giddey #3 of the Chicago Bulls celebrate against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at the United Center on October 22, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Chicago Bulls’ Star Learned From the Best

Before Giddey broke out with the Bulls, he was a talented, although flawed, point guard prospect with the Oklahoma City Thunder. A shay outside shot and an inability to defend at a high level held his team back.

In 2024, he was traded to the Bulls. He continued to improve, although the Thunder won a ring in large part thanks to Alex Caruso, and were billed as winners of the trade.

Outside of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s shadow and with a team of his own, Giddey has slowly improved into a much more complete player. While his first few seasons weren’t ideal, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

This year, the Bulls have allowed Tre Jones to run point in the traditional sense. As a result, Giddey has thrived off-ball. When Coby White makes his return from injury, the Bulls are expected to get yet another boost.

“I love it when we get all the handlers out there, Tre, Ayo, whoever it is, Coby when he gets back,” he told The Athletic’s Joel Larenzi. “Because one, it takes pressure off me having to bring the ball up every time. And two, it allows me to cut, move off the ball as well, space the floor, and try to make teams pay from behind the arc.”

Those are all skills he learned while sharing the court with Gilgeous-Alexander.

“The situation is different in Oklahoma with personnel,” he added. “They have the best player in the world on their team. You want the ball in his hands.”

Josh Giddey Is Playing Like an All-Star

In his first few seasons with the Thunder and even last year with the Bulls, Giddey was tasked with running point. It made sense, as he wasn’t a shooting threat. Instead, he set the table. This year, he’s been able to revert to what he does well: move off-ball and get open, using his size, speed, and court vision.

Is Giddey and the Bulls’ play sustainable through an 82-game season? Only six games into the year, it’s hard to tell. However, they boast statement wins over the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, and Detroit Pistons.

All of those teams were expected to finish with better records than the Bulls.

This season, Giddey is averaging 22.2 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 8.7 assists. He is also making 40.7% of his 3-pointers.

The only other player to average 20/9/8 while shooting 40% from deep in NBA history is Nikola Jokic, last season. Now, Giddey has played in only eight percent of the games Jokic did last season. Sustainability remains the biggest concern.

If Giddey can remain a high-level player and the supporting cast stays healthy, it’ll be hard to write the Bulls off. For now, they’re a fun and frisky team, but they could become a very real threat soon.

Jonah Kubicek Jonah Kubicek has been covering the NBA since 2021 and has served as a writer, editor, and social media manager. When he’s not catching a game, he can be found cooking, reading, or meticulously planning his garden. More about Jonah Kubicek

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