Josh Giddey lands four-year $152m deal with Chicago Bulls

It took over two months, but Aussie NBA star Josh Giddey has signed a big-money contract with the Chicago Bulls.

After two months in limbo, the young Melburnian can look forward to a slam-dunk payday after inking a four-year, $US100 million (AUD $152 million) contract with Chicago, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The two-metre tall* guard could have accepted a one-year, $11.14 million qualifying offer and become an unrestricted free agent* next off-season, but ultimately, he got his mega payday.

Giddey joined the Bulls in June 2024 in a trade from Oklahoma City Thunder, the team that drafted him as sixth overall pick in 2021.

He spent three seasons in Oklahoma City until the Chicago exchange swapped him for Alex Caruso – who wound up playing a crucial role in the Thunder’s 2025 championship.

Drafted to the NBA at just 18, the now 22-year-old Giddey fell from favour with the Thunder after his struggled to shoot the long ball post-season in his final season with the team.

But Giddey really found his groove in Chicago – particularly in the back half of the season.

With the Bulls, he has averaged 14.6 points*, 8.1 rebounds* and 7.2 assists*. The assists, rebounds and a 37.8 three-point percentage were all career highs.

But the final quarter of the season is where things took off for the young gun, as he averaged 21.4 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.1 assists in his final 20 games of the season.

After re-signing with the Bulls, Giddey was projected to become a building block for the team, alongside the young core of 2024 No. 11 pick Matas Buzelis, 2025 No. 12 pick Noa Essengue and 25-year-old Coby White, who joined the Bulls back in 2019.

Giddey making bank* with the Bulls bodes well for other young Australian talent in the NBA, including fellow Victorians like Indiana Pacers rookie Johnny Furphy and Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks.

WATCH JOSH GIDDEY CAUSE A COURTSIDE STIR ON A RECENT VISIT HOME

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GLOSSARY

• two-metre tall: Giddey is approximately 6-foot-8inches tall, which equates to 203cm
• unrestricted free agent: Giddey would have been free to sign with another NBA team
• points: in basketball, three pointers are baskets from outside the three point line, two points are awarded for baskets inside the three-point line, and each free shot after a technical foul (like winning a penalty kick) is worth a single point
• rebounds: number of times a player has caught the ball after it has bounced back after an unsuccessful basket attempt
• assists: passes to teammates that lead directly to points scored with a field goal
• making bank: informal slang for making a lot of money very quickly

EXTRA READING

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QUICK QUIZ

1. When did Josh Giddey join the Chicago Bulls?
2. Which team traded him and for which player?
3. What is the new four-year contract worth in Australian dollars?
4. What number overall draft was Giddey in 2021 and how old was he at the time?
5. What were Giddey’s averages in his final 20 games of the season?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Why and why not?
Should top NBA players earn so much money? Write a list of reasons for AND against.

Time: allow at least 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education

2. Extension
In the story, Josh has “ … averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists. The assists, rebounds and a 37.8 three-point percentage were all career highs.”

Do you know what this means? If you don’t, use your research skills to find out. Then, write a paragraph or create an infographic that would help a person who knows nothing about basketball to understand what it means too!

Time: allow at least 30 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Health and Physical Education

VCOP ACTIVITY
I’ve always wanted to know
If you had the opportunity to talk to Josh Giddey or one of your favourite athletes and ask them five questions, what would you ask them?

Come up with five different questions. Challenge yourself to use different question stems (question openers words) to write your questions, and don’t forget to end with a question mark.