Josh Giddey’S $100 Million Bulls Deal: A Socal-Sized Comeback Story

From Down Under to Downtown Chicago: Giddey’s Epic Rise

Josh Giddey’s NBA story reads like a gritty reboot straight outta Hollywood. Two years ago, this 6-foot-8 Aussie guard was stuck in the mud of the worst season of his young career, dragged down by a messy controversy that could’ve tanked everything - his rep, his game, and his bank account. With an NBA and police investigation hanging over him and a $40 million Weet-Bix endorsement deal on the verge of disappearing faster than a Malibu sunset, it looked bleak.

But fast forward to September 2025, and Giddey’s flipped the script in a big way. At just 22, he’s now the fresh face of the Chicago Bulls, locking in a four-year, $100 million fully guaranteed contract that screams ‘cornerstone.’ This isn’t just a paycheck - it’s a middle finger to the haters and proof that this kid’s got the grit to rise above the drama with SoCal summer energy.

It’s a comeback that’d make even the toughest LA casting director weep. From the brink of career collapse to one of the NBA’s brightest young stars, Giddey’s journey is all about redemption and raw talent shining through the noise.

Aussie Roots and Early Thunder Days

Born in Melbourne, Australia, Josh Giddey was practically raised on the hardwood. With both parents - dad Warrick and mom Kim - balling out in Australia’s NBL, the game was in his blood. By 2021, he was making waves as the first Aussie to rep the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, cementing himself as a top international prospect with skills as flashy as a Venice Beach street game.

Drafted sixth overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2021 NBA Draft, Giddey hit the ground running. His size, court vision, and all-around game had fans buzzing, and on January 2, 2022, he made history as the youngest player to notch a triple-double - 17 points, 14 assists, and 13 rebounds against the Dallas Mavericks at just 19 years and 84 days old. Talk about a flex!

Over his first two seasons with OKC, Giddey carved out a name as a versatile playmaker, linking up with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to drive the Thunder’s rebuild. It was all sunshine and surf vibes - until the storm hit hard.

Scandal Strikes: A Career on the Rocks

In late 2023, Giddey’s world got rocked harder than an LA earthquake. Social media posts surfaced alleging he’d been in a relationship with a minor, sparking investigations by both the NBA and the Newport Beach Police Department (that’s OC territory, for the uninitiated - just south of LA’s glitz). The allegations pointed to a brief encounter back in 2021 during his rookie year, when Giddey was 19 and the girl was reportedly 15.

Reports at the time suggested Giddey believed she was his age, and the relationship ended after one night. The alleged victim and her family opted not to cooperate with investigators, so the case was eventually dropped - but not before the damage was done. His $40 million Weet-Bix endorsement took a hit when the brand wiped him from their socials faster than you can say ‘Hollywood blacklist.’

On the court, Giddey’s game tanked too. Stats plummeted across the board, and with legal uncertainty and brutal press piling up, 2023 became his personal low point - a straight-up nightmare that could’ve ended his career before it even popped off.

A New Chapter: Bulls and a Big Turnaround

Enter summer 2024, when the Thunder shipped Giddey to the Chicago Bulls in a trade for defensive ace Alex Caruso. For Giddey, this wasn’t just a change of scenery - it was a lifeline, a chance to rewrite his story far from the OKC drama. And boy, did he seize it with both hands!

In his first season with the Bulls, Giddey balled out, posting career-best numbers: 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, while hitting 37.8% from beyond the arc. After the Bulls traded All-Star Zach LaVine at the deadline, Giddey stepped up as the main man, averaging 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 9.3 assists post-All-Star break on 50% shooting - including a wild 46% from deep. Seven triple-doubles in a season? That’s second only to Michael Jordan in Bulls history!

'I’ve been through the fire, but Chicago gave me a fresh start to show who I really am - on and off the court,' Giddey reportedly told close associates after inking his new deal.

Historic Highlights and a Playoff Push

Giddey’s highlight reel in Chicago is straight fire. On March 22, 2025, he dropped a stat line against the Los Angeles Lakers that’s pure legend status: 15 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds, and 8 steals - a combo no player has pulled off since steals became an official stat in 1973. Even with a muscle tear in his shooting hand late in the season, he didn’t slow down, pushing the Bulls to a 15-5 finish and a play-in berth.

That kind of heart and hustle is why the Bulls didn’t hesitate to lock him in long-term. His ability to dominate as a primary ball-handler, paired with a newfound confidence, turned heads across the league. It’s like watching a blockbuster unfold at the ArcLight Cinemas - you can’t look away.

From the streets of Melbourne to the windy courts of Chicago, Giddey’s proven he’s got the game to match the hype. And with this latest chapter, he’s not just playing for wins - he’s playing for legacy.

The $100 Million Stamp of Approval

This week in 2025, ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news that Josh Giddey has officially signed a four-year, $100 million contract with the Bulls. Fully guaranteed, no options, just pure faith from the franchise that this 22-year-old is their point guard of the future. It’s the kind of deal that’d make even a Rodeo Drive shopper jealous.

For Giddey, this contract isn’t just about the Benjamins - it’s the final nail in the coffin of a brutal two-year saga that nearly derailed everything. It’s a symbol of survival, of grinding through the noise and coming out stronger on the other side.

From scandal to stardom, Giddey’s story is the ultimate LA-style redemption arc. He’s not just back - he’s better, more productive, and more valuable than ever. Chicago’s got their guy, and the NBA better watch out because this Aussie’s just getting started.