How Josh Giddey helps others get better, on and off the court

Entering his sixth season in the NBA, Australian star Josh Giddey has long forged a reputation as one of the league’s best and most creative playmakers. Whether it be a no-look pass to a rim runner, an off-balance skip pass to the corner or a lob to a rolling tall, Giddey typically finds his man.

That’s why the Chicago Bulls point guard is so excited about playing with Caleb Wilson, the No.4 overall selection in the June draft. The dynamic Wilson was schooled in Tar Heel blue at Michael Jordan’s alma mater University of North Carolina, and has been likened to Miami Heat star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett.

“I played with him [Wilson] a few times in pick-up runs and things like that. He looks really good … I think he’s everything that’s been advertised. He can kind of do a bit of everything out on the court, so he’s going to be super versatile,” Giddey told this masthead from Chicago on the eve of the Bulls’ training camp.

“He’s going to be able to play multiple positions, guard multiple positions. It’s exactly what we need, and to be able to have a weapon like that is going to be a lot of fun for fans to see.”

Wilson has the guile and speed of a Ferrari, blending athleticism and length at 6-foot-10 and 215 pounds. Giddey worked out with Wilson in Miami recently, the pair combining well when working around the ring.

“He gets up and down the floor. He’s going to be super exciting for fans to see … I’m really excited to play with him,” said Giddey, who amassed 13 triple-doubles last season, bettered only by Denver great Nikola Jokic.

It’s clear Giddey, 23, is upbeat about the new campaign, his frustration with the events of last season obvious when he spoke with this masthead in Melbourne mid-year for, among other things, an unofficial Boomers’ training camp ahead of next year’s FIBA World Cup.

The Bulls had a tumultuous 2025-26 campaign, parting ways with their lead basketball operations chiefs and coach, while Giddey was restricted to 56 games because of injuries, including an ankle problem which led to off-season arthroscopic surgery, the first time he had gone under the knife.

“Frustrating is, you know, probably an understatement, and this city and fan base is so loyal and passionate that they all want us back in the play-offs and, trust me, no one wants that more than us players,” Giddey said.

Now fresh and fit, Giddey has the job of helping to lead the Bulls back to relevance in a packed eastern conference, which includes defending champions New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers, who have signed all-time great LeBron James and former Boston Celtics’ star Jaylen Brown.

The Bulls missed the play-offs last season, and have too often faded from view since the halcyon years of Jordan and Scottie Pippen in the 1990s.

Giddey, with a four-year, $150 million contract, said it had been a “whirlwind” period of change.

“So, we’re doing everything we can to get back there and, you know, we’re a new team to what we had last year. A lot of changes have been made, within the building, front office, coaches, staff, players,” Giddey said.

“So it’s been a whirlwind six months in terms of change, but I think the stability we’ve got now, being able to lock in the group and the people that we have in the building, is very important.”

Under new coach Tiago Splitter, who did an excellent job as interim coach of Portland last season, the Bulls have been boosted by snaring scorers Norman Powell and Buddy Hield, and defensive centre Nic Claxton.

“I like what we’ve got in our locker room, and I think we can compete with anybody,” Giddey said.

“As good as some of these teams are, I think everyone’s beatable. Yeah, everyone’s beatable. We’re beatable. We can beat anybody. So yeah, it’s a matter of bringing it every night, and we’ll see how we go after 82 games are done.”

Giddey also continues to have an impact off the court. Through the Josh Giddey Family Foundation, the Australian has unveiled a new community space at Ronald McDonald House: Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

With the support of Chicago Bulls Charities, local artists and designers, Giddey has helped to construct a room that families can retreat to, featuring a pop-a-shot machine, gaming and Giddey paraphernalia.

“I think it’s one of the best parts about what we do; being able to give back, and do things like this. So yeah, I’m super excited for it, and it’s going to be awesome to be able to open this, and have it kind of tie back to Australia,” Giddey, a famous product of the Melbourne Tigers basketball program, said.

“The room is Australian themed. To be able to tie my home, Australia, to my second home Chicago is going to be pretty cool.”

Giddey said he had plans for his foundation to have a role in Melbourne.

“There’s definitely things I’m kind of brainstorming on in Melbourne or Australia but, more specifically, Melbourne, whatever that looks like is TBD,” Giddey said.

“Any time I can do something to give back and make other people’s lives better and improve them … I don’t take for granted how lucky I am to be in a position I am. So, any chance I can give back and do things like this I, you know, jump at, and try to do as much as I can.”

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