Josh Giddey - Conundrum Killer

[Pipp33]

Giddey CAN be a good level starting guard in the NBA.

When he's been given the opportunity to be the lead playmaking guard, hes played well a lot more often than not. Most games he played at OKC , when SGA was out, where real solid outings. Last season he was played completely out of his natural game, but he didn't whine about it, just turned up and did what he was asked to do.

His playing time at Bulls pre All Star was consistently inconsistent as he was Billy's fall guy whenever he made a mistake. Yet Coby, Zach and Vuc could make defensive error after defensive error and not face the same scrutiny.

He has faults, as do a LOT of players, but he also does some things very well and is still young enough to work on his game. His ball handling is not elite, but he's not out there averaging 4+ TO's a game.

I hope he's re-signed and continues his improvement. I'd much rather have him, than Coby

Define good starting PG? Top 10 or top 15?

I'd say good starting guard doesn't have to be Top 15, it depends on the team make up and their role.

I do think Top 15 is a possibility Giddey

[Infinity2152]

All those guys have been primary ballhandlers their whole career except Harden. Who's assists shot up as he became primary ballhandler. High usage, start every play with the ball in their hand. Giddey's played with 4 guard lineups his whole career. He's generated those assist numbers as secondary ballhandler and playing with bench players much of the time. As full-time primary ballhandler, we see a different Giddey.

[PJSteven22]

All those guys have been primary ballhandlers their whole career except Harden. Whose assists shot up as he became primary ballhandler. High usage, start every play with the ball in their hand. Giddey's played with 4 guard lineups his whole career. He's generated those assist numbers as secondary ballhandler and playing with bench players much of the time. As full-time primary ballhandler, we see a different Giddey.

He has to learn how to play with other talented guys

[PJSteven22]

Giddey CAN be a good level starting guard in the NBA.

When he's been given the opportunity to be the lead playmaking guard, hes played well a lot more often than not. Most games he played at OKC , when SGA was out, where real solid outings. Last season he was played completely out of his natural game, but he didn't whine about it, just turned up and did what he was asked to do.

His playing time at Bulls pre All Star was consistently inconsistent as he was Billy's fall guy whenever he made a mistake. Yet Coby, Zach and Vuc could make defensive error after defensive error and not face the same scrutiny.

He has faults, as do a LOT of players, but he also does some things very well and is still young enough to work on his game. His ball handling is not elite, but he's not out there averaging 4+ TO's a game.

I hope he's re-signed and continues his improvement. I'd much rather have him, than Coby

Define good starting PG? Top 10 or top 15?

I'd say good starting guard doesn't have to be Top 15, it depends on the team make up and their role.

I do think Top 15 is a possibility Giddey

Yikes

[Infinity2152]

Just out of curiosity, looked up point guard ranking 2025. Get an unbiased opinion. First thing up was HoopsHype preseason ranking.

https://hoopshype.com/lists/nba-rankings-predictions-top-30-point-guards-2024-25/

Coby White and Josh Giddey are listed at 21 and 22. Guys ahead of them between 15-21
James Harden
Derrick White
Darius Garland
Jrue Holiday
Dejaunte Murray
Fred Van Fleet

If he can be the 15th best PG, I'm good with that. There are a lot of great PG's in the league.

Not going to dispute the accuracy, it was the first unbiased (no connection to Bulls) opinion that came up.

[Stratmaster]

Well to br fair to "some" of us... We didn't all want to tank. Some of us wanted to see Ball/Ayo, Lavine, Giddey, Matas, Smith lineups all season long.

If you are rebuilding I don't really understand the thought process that you DON'T want to see a 22 year old point guard emerge as a high quality NBA player.

A 22yo guy starts putting up 20+ ppg, double digit rebounds, is getting blocks and steals at a Caruso level.... all while running the point... and we should be what? Devastated?

Totally agree with Strat. I either do a Hard Yes or a Hard No on his opinions, and this one is a Hard Yes.

It's the blind squirrel effect

[Stratmaster]

The excitement over Giddey is frankly hilarious in light of the mantras of most posters saying how important it is that we be bad for multiple years in the future in order to be able to draft really talented players.

You can't really insist that we tank/rebuild/start over blah blah blah if you are excited to commit long term to a quite flawed yet effective floor raiser like Giddey. It's like the exact opposite of what most have been saying they want. Predictable, but hilarious.

He's a fine player and all, might even run a good offense eventually. But he's just a different flavor of the types of guys we've had.

Well to br fair to "some" of us... We didn't all want to tank. Some of us wanted to see Ball/Ayo, Lavine, Giddey, Matas, Smith lineups all season long.

If you are rebuilding I don't really understand the thought process that you DON'T want to see a 22 year old point guard emerge as a high quality NBA player.

A 22yo guy starts putting up 20+ ppg, double digit rebounds, is getting blocks and steals at a Caruso level.... all while running the point... and we should be what? Devastated?

Of course I WANT to see Giddey emerge as a great player. There just isn't a lot to suggest that he's on that track.

20 ppg????? He averages under 13. You don't get to treat his hot streak as the new real Giddey after trashing Coby White endlessly while he actually does average over 18 a game.

It's just funny that tons of the same people that are sure we suck and need to tank for multiple years are excited to pencil in a super slow, unathletic, not-good-shooting Giddey to run our offense long term.

I didn't want to tank either. One of the reasons is that I'm aware at how easy it is to ruin a tank and how likely that is by the emergence of floor raisers like Giddey.

You missed the word "starts" in my post.

I like Coby White. I don't trash him. I have said over and over again he is the perfect microwave bench player.

Again. If you are rebuilding having a 21 year old guy playing the way Giddey has been the last few weeks is a good thing.

[Stratmaster]

Giddey is having a very strong 3 game stretch and looks like the guy you want to have around rather than some 2nd round pick in the G League. that said, it's 3 games I still want to see what he ends up looking like between now and 3 games left in the season before I start to worry about what contract he rates. He's still part of a very large group of guards none of which has stood out above the rest all year.

It's been more than 3 games.

[Pipp33]

Define good starting PG? Top 10 or top 15?

I'd say good starting guard doesn't have to be Top 15, it depends on the team make up and their role.

I do think Top 15 is a possibility Giddey

Yikes

Good feedback

[Infinity2152]

Giddey is having a very strong 3 game stretch and looks like the guy you want to have around rather than some 2nd round pick in the G League. that said, it's 3 games I still want to see what he ends up looking like between now and 3 games left in the season before I start to worry about what contract he rates. He's still part of a very large group of guards none of which has stood out above the rest all year.

It's been more than 3 games.

Three game stretch, lol! Four players have averaged 17 pts, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in their age 20 season. Lebron James, Luka Doncic, Lamelo Ball and Josh Giddey. And he's better now. That stat line he put up the other day, 17 pts, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks and a steal in the first half, nobody's had a game like that in the PXP era (since 1996). Name is already in the record books. Below average starter

[Chi town]

Giddey is having a very strong 3 game stretch and looks like the guy you want to have around rather than some 2nd round pick in the G League. that said, it's 3 games I still want to see what he ends up looking like between now and 3 games left in the season before I start to worry about what contract he rates. He's still part of a very large group of guards none of which has stood out above the rest all year.

It's been more than 3 games.

Strat, I’m interested. Did you hoop back in the day?

If so, what was your game like?

Always interested in your takes. You’re a hoops purist. I respect it.

[PJSteven22]

Giddey is having a very strong 3 game stretch and looks like the guy you want to have around rather than some 2nd round pick in the G League. that said, it's 3 games I still want to see what he ends up looking like between now and 3 games left in the season before I start to worry about what contract he rates. He's still part of a very large group of guards none of which has stood out above the rest all year.

It's been more than 3 games.

Three game stretch, lol! Four players have averaged 17 pts, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in their age 20 season. Lebron James, Luka Doncic, Lamelo Ball and Josh Giddey. And he's better now. That stat line he put up the other day, 17 pts, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks and a steal in the first half, nobody's had a game like that in the PXP era (since 1996). Name is already in the record books. Below average starter

https://cdn1.thecomeback.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2018/02/Fox-Sports-Indiana-Graphic-832x447.jpg

[PJSteven22]

Giddey is having a very strong 3 game stretch and looks like the guy you want to have around rather than some 2nd round pick in the G League. that said, it's 3 games I still want to see what he ends up looking like between now and 3 games left in the season before I start to worry about what contract he rates. He's still part of a very large group of guards none of which has stood out above the rest all year.

It's been more than 3 games.

Three game stretch, lol! Four players have averaged 17 pts, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in their age 20 season. Lebron James, Luka Doncic, Lamelo Ball and Josh Giddey. And he's better now. That stat line he put up the other day, 17 pts, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks and a steal in the first half, nobody's had a game like that in the PXP era (since 1996). Name is already in the record books. Below average starter

[Infinity2152]

It's been more than 3 games.

Three game stretch, lol! Four players have averaged 17 pts, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in their age 20 season. Lebron James, Luka Doncic, Lamelo Ball and Josh Giddey. And he's better now. That stat line he put up the other day, 17 pts, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks and a steal in the first half, nobody's had a game like that in the PXP era (since 1996). Name is already in the record books. Below average starter

https://cdn1.thecomeback.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2018/02/Fox-Sports-Indiana-Graphic-832x447.jpg

Thaddeus Young came in at 19 in 2007. He last played 2023-2024. He had a very solid career as a starter for a lot of years. Best season 17.9 pts, 2.3 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and he was a very good defender. Is that supposed to be an example of a scrub who lucked into the record books? He was a damn good player. And never got paid or expected to get paid like the other guys. money matters. Those guys end up costing twice his relative cap, they should put up twice the numbers, lol!

You could pay 2 Josh Giddey's with the salaries of the guys on his list. He's able to stick in the league 16 years, and start most of them, think he'll be good with that for a career.

[PJSteven22]

Three game stretch, lol! Four players have averaged 17 pts, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in their age 20 season. Lebron James, Luka Doncic, Lamelo Ball and Josh Giddey. And he's better now. That stat line he put up the other day, 17 pts, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks and a steal in the first half, nobody's had a game like that in the PXP era (since 1996). Name is already in the record books. Below average starter

https://cdn1.thecomeback.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2018/02/Fox-Sports-Indiana-Graphic-832x447.jpg

Thaddeus Young came in at 19 in 2007. He last played 2023-2024. He had a very solid career as a starter for a lot of years. Best season 17.9 pts, 2.3 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and he was a very good defender. Is that supposed to be an example of a scrub who lucked into the record books? He was a damn good player. And never got paid or expected to get paid like the other guys. money matters. Those guys end up costing twice his relative cap, they should put up twice the numbers, lol!

Yep it went over your head

[Infinity2152]

https://cdn1.thecomeback.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/94/2018/02/Fox-Sports-Indiana-Graphic-832x447.jpg

Thaddeus Young came in at 19 in 2007. He last played 2023-2024. He had a very solid career as a starter for a lot of years. Best season 17.9 pts, 2.3 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and he was a very good defender. Is that supposed to be an example of a scrub who lucked into the record books? He was a damn good player. And never got paid or expected to get paid like the other guys. money matters. Those guys end up costing twice his relative cap, they should put up twice the numbers, lol!

Yep it went over your head

You post a vague picture with no explanation and it went over my head, lol! Ok, knock, knock. You know the punchline, or did it go over your head? How about you say what you mean instead of expecting people to draw conclusions? "Went over your head" sounds like a slick way of saying you're smarter than me, and I'm not going back and forth with you like that on here.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

Giddey will be a really good player. He's 22 years old. I guess people are discounting his defense but he makes a few impact plays such as blocks and steals every game. Also, to reiterate, he's still 22 and has improved his shooting every season. I would feel comfortable paying him $20m/yr but I wouldn't want to go much over that. He still has limitations.

He could fit the modern NBA very well in his prime. Passing, getting to the rim, shooting (?), rebounding. Seems like a good fit alongside a defensive wing like Matas. You just have to put other defenders/shooters around him. Lonzo, Ayo, Pat(?), etc. Definitely need to get rid of Vuc and draft a defensive center.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

Thaddeus Young came in at 19 in 2007. He last played 2023-2024. He had a very solid career as a starter for a lot of years. Best season 17.9 pts, 2.3 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and he was a very good defender. Is that supposed to be an example of a scrub who lucked into the record books? He was a damn good player. And never got paid or expected to get paid like the other guys. money matters. Those guys end up costing twice his relative cap, they should put up twice the numbers, lol!

Yep it went over your head

You post a vague picture with no explanation and it went over my head, lol! Ok, knock, knock. You know the punchline, or did it go over your head? How about you say what you mean instead of expecting people to draw conclusions? "Went over your head" sounds like a slick way of saying you're smarter than me, and I'm not going back and forth with you like that on here.

I blocked that guy quite a while ago and I suggest you do the same.

[Muzbar]

Yep it went over your head

You post a vague picture with no explanation and it went over my head, lol! Ok, knock, knock. You know the punchline, or did it go over your head? How about you say what you mean instead of expecting people to draw conclusions? "Went over your head" sounds like a slick way of saying you're smarter than me, and I'm not going back and forth with you like that on here.

I blocked that guy quite a while ago and I suggest you do the same.

Sound advice.

[Infinity2152]

Yep it went over your head

You post a vague picture with no explanation and it went over my head, lol! Ok, knock, knock. You know the punchline, or did it go over your head? How about you say what you mean instead of expecting people to draw conclusions? "Went over your head" sounds like a slick way of saying you're smarter than me, and I'm not going back and forth with you like that on here.

I blocked that guy quite a while ago and I suggest you do the same.

Got you. Thanks.