Josh Giddy is one of the league’s most powerful performers in the second half of the 2024-25 season.
Taking a chance to become the leader of the Chicago Bulls following Zach Lavine’s midseason trade departure, Australia’s senses are turning his head with the great feats of his past and jaw-dropping moments.
It was arguably the best play of the season, and Josh Giddy has since last month delivered an unthinkable midcourt heave to win it for the Bulls.
Of the sparkling shows he shows, there are now important discussions going on about his long-term stay in Chicago.
However, this season, his team is heading for a play-in tournament and Giddy has past playoff experience with OKC that he can pull out.
The semi-finals of the 2024 Western Conference with the Dallas Mavericks served as the final moment for Giddy of Thunder. He was beyond disappointment, taking responsibility on both ends, averaging 6.2 points, 2.7 boards and 1.3 assists over 12.6 minutes.
In the final two games of the series, he was demoted to the bench role by manager Mark DeGreen as OKC was eventually eliminated from postseason competition in Game 6 in Dallas.
Looking back at rough events in his young career, Giddy simply became humbled as he learned his own lessons.
“I will never forget to return to the plane after the Thunder playoff elimination last season,” Giddy told the Chicago Sun-Times.
“First of all, I was ready to get out of there, because it was obviously a long time for a lot of reasons, and the Wi-Fi was down so I couldn’t even spend time on the phone.
“I was just thinking there and I remembered that before I left one of the Morris Twins approached me and said, ‘You’re too good to let it wake you up.’
“From that point on, my mind was, “The next time we arrive in the postseason, what happened in that playoff series will never happen again.” ”
This embarrassing display encouraged Gaddy to quietly seek trade as the lightning sent him to a windy city at the expense of all his defensive wing Alex Caruso.
As his appearance as the Bulls lead guard continues, debate suddenly emerges if OKC really chooses to cut off his relationship with the 22-year-old.
Anyway, Giddey tastes the most of his brand new beginnings in Chicago, applying all the learning he got before leaving Oklahoma City.
“100%,” Giddy said when asked if he would accept the challenge of improving and stepping up for the next playoff series, following the brutal series against Dallas.
” (Mavericks series) was probably an experience I needed? I’m actually 21 years old than 30, and I’d like to participate in the playoffs for the first time. It was one of the hardest lessons I’ve ever learned, but it was also the right thing back then. It’s probably not the right thing, but it’s what I needed.
”Obviously, going through it, I’ll be better for it. And once this team plays such a meaningful game and gets to that stage, I’m ready to go.”