Pre-season predictions had the Chicago Bulls once again featuring in the Eastern Conference play-in, even after a strong finish to the regular season in their last campaign. That campaign ended at the hands of the Miami Heat, in the play-in, with Josh Giddey and company having a night to forget when the lights were brightest.
Giddey's opposite number Tyler Herro's offensive explosion (38 points on 68% shooting) catapulted the Heat to a convincing 109-90 victory, ending the Bulls' season. To that point, the early portion of the Australian's tenure in the Windy City had been one of peaks and troughs.
Following a highly publicised and scrutinised trade that saw him join the rebuilding Bulls in exchange for defensive lynchpin and coveted role player Alex Caruso, Giddey averaged 14 points at a true shooting clip of 57%, eight rebounds and seven assists a night. Those numbers were fine, but hardly inspired confidence in Chicago's front office that they'd found a long-term replacement for the playmaking of Lonzo Ball. Hence, reticence on the part of Chicago's oft-maligned management to hand the former Adelaide 36er his desired $30 million per season deal arose.
Just weeks out from training camp, Giddey became one of Australia's highest-paid athletes, 'settling' for a four-year, $100 million contract.
It appeared to be a savvy investment on the part of the Bulls, and the vote of confidence Giddey needed to truly discover his best.
The point guard has been playing career-best ball to begin the 2025-26 season, steering the Bulls to their first 5-0 start since one Michael Jordan wore their colours. Giddey also became the first Bull since 'His Airness' to post back-to-back triple doubles.
Admittedly, the young Bulls have sputtered since this magical start, losing three of their last four to fellow Eastern Conference contenders New York, Milwaukee and Cleveland.
In the midst of that rut, however, there was a victory that encapsulates the identity of this young side perfectly.
At one point in a clash with the Philadelphia 76ers, who were welcoming back one time league MVP Joel Embiid, Giddey's Bulls trailed by a seemingly insurmountable 24 points.
The depth scoring that had characterised their early season form had withered, as had the potent, slick ball movement, and stout team defence. The Bulls allowed 45 points in the first quarter alone, and an ugly blowout appeared on the cards.
Giddey's well-rounded toolkit simply wouldn't stand for that.
He would eventually post the second of the aforementioned consecutive triple doubles, and inspire his young side to a signature victory. He started creating open looks for the athletic second-year wing Matas Buzelis. He was a presence in the paint, 'cleaning the glass' very well, by guard standards. His character inspired a return to form for the likes of the emerging Isaac Okoro. Kevin Huerter was a beneficiary of his crafty playmaking, contributing from his role off the bench.
The play that will live on in the minds of the long-suffering Bulls faithful, however, was the final bucket of the game. Giddey's dribble has been a lingering question mark early in his NBA career, but he used it to drive into a crowded lane. Once there, most would be forgiven for expecting a layup attempt, but instead, while falling out of bounds, Giddey fashioned a one-handed pass to the corner, where shooting big Nikola Vucevic was waiting. The grizzly veteran would then do the pass justice, burying the triple, and securing Chicago their first lead of the game with just three seconds remaining.
This is a team playing for each other. They rank last for isolation usage percentage, and third for assists across the Association. Put simply, it's an 'everybody eats' system being employed by early Coach of the Year candidate Billy Donovan. This mentality has permeated the play of this young group, and at point guard, Giddey is most responsible for its execution. In this season's early sledding, it's hardly a stretch to say the responsibility suits the emerging floor general.
Giddey is averaging career bests in points, rebounds and assists to start the season, and one could reasonably assume that given context, the craftsman responsible for engraving the NBA's Most Improved Award should start stencilling the 23-year-old's name onto the trophy's nameplate.
Alas, there are bigger fish to fry.
Giddey presents as a first-time All-Star.
Again, there are bigger fish to fry.
Giddey's start is emblematic of his team's, and should they both continue, Giddey will climb MVP ladders.
That's still not the biggest fish.
In this game, and most others, team success defines legacy, and somehow, the Bulls have a chance at experiencing some this season.
The East is even weaker than first thought, given the regression of the injury-affected Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers. The supposedly rising Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks appear to be the same commodities they've always been. The Bulls already have wins over teams sitting pretty in the early Conference standings, like the Knicks and Pistons.
Yes the West is a far more daunting prospect, but the beauty of a conference system means that's a relative non-factor before the Finals.
All of this without the availability of their consensus best player, and fellow guard, UNC product, Coby White.
Their hot start, and the optimism that an imminent return for the mercurial White generates, have transformed the Bulls from sellers to buyers as the trade deadline looms. A couple of team-friendly acquisitions would add credence to dreams of a genuine playoff push for a team that hasn't featured in the Conference semifinals since 2013.
Even if it's not this year, the bones of a perennial contender are being excavated. Convince Vucevic to take a team-friendly, veteran deal, for depth if nothing else. Assess what this team looks like with the continued development of key pieces like Buzelis, Giddey and White. Allow hometown kid Ayo Dosunmu to flourish, given the spark his defensive commitment and ever-improving offensive bag create off the bench. See what first round draft pick Noa Essengue turns into after G-League exposure and an apprenticeship in a team that is building an identity around supporting the guy next to you.
There's lots to like in Chicago, and an awkwardly built guard from Down Under is at the forefront of it.
