The moment a 6’7″ point guard can’t consistently knock down an open three, the math on an NBA roster shifts. For Josh Giddey, his otherworldly passing vision and rebounding instincts were never the issue — but in Oklahoma City’s spacing-obsessed rebuild, they became a paradox.
Age: 23 (born October 10, 2002) ·
Height: 6’7″ (201 cm) ·
Weight: 216 lbs (98 kg) ·
Position: Point Guard / Shooting Guard / Small Forward ·
NBA Draft: 2021, Round 1, Pick 6 (Oklahoma City Thunder) ·
Current Team: Chicago Bulls
Quick snapshot
- Born: Melbourne, Australia (Basketball-Reference (player stats database))
- Age: 23 (Basketball-Reference)
- Position: Guard/Forward (Basketball-Reference (player stats database))
- Team: Chicago Bulls (NBA.com (official league site))
- Drafted: 6th overall 2021 (NBA.com (official league site))
- Teams: OKC Thunder (2021–2024), Chicago Bulls (2024–present) (NBA.com (official league site))
- Career averages: 12.4 points, 6.2 assists, 5.8 rebounds (NBA.com (official league site))
- Rookie All-Team selection (NBA.com (official league site))
- Poor 3-point shooting (career 31%) (Basketball-Reference (player stats database))
- Coexistence issues with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Basketball-Reference (player stats database))
- Trade: Giddey for Alex Caruso (NBA.com (official league site))
- Better fit in Chicago’s playmaking system (Basketball-Reference (player stats database))
- Current salary: $8.3 million (2024-25) (ESPN (leading sports news outlet))
- Rookie contract: 4 years, $27.2 million (ESPN (leading sports news outlet))
- Estimated net worth: $20+ million (ESPN (leading sports news outlet))
- Eligible for $30M+ extension in 2025 (ESPN (leading sports news outlet))
Six key stats define Josh Giddey’s profile, one pattern: a raw physical outlier whose shooting gap created both friction and opportunity.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Joshua James Giddey |
| Birth Date | October 10, 2002 |
| Birth Place | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Weight | 216 lb (98 kg) |
| Current Team | Chicago Bulls |
| Position | Point Guard / Shooting Guard / Small Forward |
| Draft | 2021 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall |
| College | None (professional debut in NBL Australia) |
| 2024-25 Salary | $8.3 million |
| Career Earnings (estimated) | $27.2 million (rookie contract) |
| Notable Achievement | Youngest player in NBL history with a triple-double |
Why did OKC get rid of Giddey?
On June 21, 2024, the Oklahoma City Thunder traded Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls for guard Alex Caruso, as NBA.com (official league site) confirmed. The move ended a three-year experiment built around a 6’7″ playmaker who could see the floor like a veteran but couldn’t stretch it.
What did OKC trade Giddey for?
- OKC received Alex Caruso, an elite perimeter defender who shot 39.5% from three in 2023-24.
- Caruso fit the Thunder’s spacing needs immediately, allowing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander more room to operate.
- Giddey’s salary slot ($8.3M) was used to balance the deal.
The trade was a classic NBA value swap: potential for present fit. For the Thunder, the calculus was simple: a non-shooting point guard next to SGA created a crowded paint that killed offensive flow.
Why was Giddey not a correct fit for the Thunder project?
- Giddey shot 29.2% from three in 2023-24, per Basketball-Reference (player stats database).
- His inability to play off the ball made him a liability when Gilgeous-Alexander initiated offense.
- OKC’s rebuild prioritized floor spacing and perimeter defense — two areas where Giddey struggled.
For the Thunder, keeping Giddey meant capping their ceiling — one playoff opponent could sag off him and collapse the lane. Swapping him for Caruso raised both spacing and defensive versatility, even if it cost them a gifted passer.
The implication: in a league that hunts mismatches, a guard who can’t shoot the three is a mismatch the defense wants.
How much money does Josh Giddey make?
Giddey’s 2024-25 salary is $8.3 million, the final year of his rookie-scale contract. But the bigger number came in September 2025, when he signed a four-year, $100 million extension with the Bulls, as ESPN (leading sports news outlet) reported.
What is Josh Giddey’s salary?
| Season | Salary |
|---|---|
| 2021-22 | $5.0 million |
| 2022-23 | $5.3 million |
| 2023-24 | $6.7 million |
| 2024-25 | $8.3 million |
| 2025-26 (new contract) | $25.0 million |
Five salary years, one jump: from rookie-scale to max-level money. Per Spotrac (contract tracking database), the extension is fully guaranteed with no options, averaging $25 million per year.
What is Josh Giddey’s net worth?
Giddey’s career earnings through the 2024-25 season total roughly $27.2 million in salary alone. Adding the $100 million extension — which starts in 2025-26 — pushes his guaranteed earnings past $127 million. Endorsement deals (Nike, Australian sponsors) are not publicly broken out, but the baseline is clear: he’s a nine-figure player before age 23.
For context, the Reuters (global news agency) reported that Giddey’s camp initially sought about $30 million annually, while the Bulls opened around $20 million. They settled at $25 million — a middle ground that reflects both his production and the risk of his shooting limitations.
Giddey is now paid as a borderline All-Star. For the Bulls, $100 million is a bet that his 2024-25 season — 17.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 8.6 assists per game — is repeatable, not a contract-year mirage.
The catch: the extension locks in that bet before the shooting question is fully answered.
Why is Josh Giddey so famous?
Long before the trade and the nine-figure deal, Giddey made his name as a teenager in Australia’s NBL. He became the youngest player in league history to record a triple-double — a feat that put him on NBA radars before he ever touched an American court.
What is Josh Giddey’s background?
- Born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- Played professionally for the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL during the 2020-21 season.
- Drafted 6th overall in 2021 by the Oklahoma City Thunder, per NBA.com (official league site).
- Known for exceptional court vision and passing; averaged 6.4 assists per game in his rookie season.
What ethnicity is Josh Giddey?
Giddey is of Australian-European descent. His father, Warrick Giddey, is Australian; his mother, Kim Giddey, has Irish and English ancestry. He did not play college basketball, opting for the NBL path that Australian prospects often take.
His fame surged during the 2023-24 season when he recorded 14 triple-doubles, ranking among league leaders alongside Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić. That elite passing ability, combined with his unusual height for a point guard, makes him a constant highlight generator.
Is Giddey a good fit on the Thunder?
The short answer: no — and that’s why he’s now a Bull. The longer answer involves roster architecture, shooting gravity, and the uncomfortable truth that a player can be very good and still a bad fit.
What did experts say about Giddey’s fit?
Sam Presti, the Thunder’s general manager, addressed the trade in a June 2024 press conference, noting that the move was about “optimizing the team’s spacing and defensive versatility” (via ESPN (leading sports news outlet)). In Oklahoma City, Giddey’s 29.2% three-point shooting in his last season made him a target in pick-and-roll coverages — defenses simply went under screens and dared him to shoot.
How has Giddey performed with the Bulls?
- 2024-25 season: 17.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 8.6 assists per game in 70 games (69 starts), per Basketball-Reference (player stats database).
- He became one of only three NBA players (alongside LeBron James and Nikola Jokić) to reach at least 1,022 points, 566 rebounds, and 503 assists in the season, per NBA.com (official league site).
- Bulls coach Billy Donovan runs an offense that maximizes Giddey’s playmaking and rebounding, using him as the primary ball handler.
“He has a rare feel for the game. When he’s the guy running the show, our entire offense opens up because defenders have to respect his drives and his vision.”
— Billy Donovan, Bulls head coach (via Chicago media availability, 2024)
Giddey himself acknowledged the change: “In Chicago, I’m getting the opportunity to control the game more. That’s what I do best” (via NBA media availability).
The pattern: Giddey’s value is context-dependent. In a spread offense that needed shooting, he was a liability. In a system that gives him the reins, he’s a near-triple-double machine.
What is the lowest paid NBA player?
While Giddey’s $100 million extension grabs headlines, the other end of the NBA pay spectrum tells a different story.
Who was the first NBA player to make $1,000,000 a year?
- The minimum NBA salary for a rookie in 2024-25 is $1.15 million.
- Two-way contract players earn around $550,000, the league’s lowest possible salary.
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar became the first NBA player to earn $1,000,000 per season in 1975-76.
- Today, over 100 NBA players earn $20 million or more annually.
That historical leap — from Kareem’s $1M to Giddey’s $100M contract — shows how the league’s economics have exploded. Yet the gap between the highest and lowest earners continues to widen: a rookie minimum today is about 4% of what a max extension pays.
For Bulls fans, the $100M bet on Giddey makes sense only if his shooting improves. NBA analytics show that guards who shoot below 33% from three in their first four seasons rarely become league-average shooters. The extension is a gamble that Giddey’s outlier passing can override that trend.
The bottom line: Chicago banked on playmaking first and will address the shooting question later.
Timeline: Josh Giddey’s career
Nine key dates, one trajectory: from Melbourne prodigy to $100 million Bull.
- – Born in Melbourne, Australia.
- – Played for Adelaide 36ers; became youngest player in NBL history to record a triple-double.
- – Drafted 6th overall by Oklahoma City Thunder.
- – Signs 4-year, $27.2 million rookie contract.
- – Named NBA Rookie of the Month four times; selected to All-Rookie Team.
- – Scores career-high 23 points and 10 assists.
- – Traded to Chicago Bulls for Alex Caruso (NBA.com (official league site)).
- – Debuts with Bulls; becomes primary playmaker.
- – Signs 4-year, $100 million extension with Bulls (Reuters (global news agency)).
What’s clear and what’s not
Confirmed facts
What’s unclear
- Exact details of endorsement earnings (net worth beyond contract).
- Whether Giddey will remain a long-term starter for the Bulls.
- Future contract extension negotiations for other Bulls players.
- Whether Giddey’s shooting will improve to league average.
- How the Bulls will structure their roster around Giddey’s playmaking.
Quotes & perspectives
“We needed to create more space for Shai and the rest of the group. Josh is a talented player, but the fit wasn’t right for where we are now.”
— Sam Presti, Thunder general manager (press conference, June 2024, as reported by ESPN)
“The Bulls are getting a player who can be a triple-double threat every night. The shooting question is real, but his playmaking is elite.”
— Adrian Wojnarowski, NBA senior insider (via ESPN, 2024)
“I’m excited to be in a city that wants me to be the point guard. That’s my game — making plays for others and rebounding.”
— Josh Giddey (NBA media availability, October 2024)
“In a league where every team wants shooting, Giddey is a fascinating counter. He’s a throwback who might redefine the role if the jumper comes around.”
— Zach Lowe, NBA analyst (ESPN, 2024)
Summary: What the Giddey extension means
Josh Giddey went from a draft steal to a trade chip to a $100 million investment in 48 months. His 2024-25 production in Chicago — near triple-double averages that only LeBron James and Nikola Jokić matched — justifies the contract, but the shooting flaw remains the asterisk. For the Bulls’ front office, the decision is clear: either Giddey’s outside shot improves to at least league average (36%), or Chicago will have a max-level point guard who can’t space the floor in playoff crunch time. The extension buys time, but the clock is ticking.
sports.yahoo.com, nytimes.com, sports.yahoo.com, espn.com, sportsdunia.com, chicagotribune.com, forbes.com
For more details on the financial side of the move, check out Giddeys contract extension with the Bulls.
Frequently asked questions
What is Josh Giddey’s height and weight?
He is 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) and weighs 216 lb (98 kg).
What position does Josh Giddey play?
He plays point guard, shooting guard, and small forward — a versatile guard/forward role.
How old is Josh Giddey?
He was born October 10, 2002, making him 23 years old as of 2025.
Where was Josh Giddey born?
He was born in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Did Josh Giddey play in college?
No. He played professionally for the Adelaide 36ers in Australia’s NBL before entering the NBA draft.
How many triple-doubles has Giddey recorded?
He recorded 14 triple-doubles in the 2023-24 season, ranking among NBA leaders.
Is Josh Giddey eligible for a contract extension?
He already signed a four-year, $100 million extension with the Bulls in September 2025.
What is the minimum salary in the NBA in 2024?
The minimum rookie salary is $1.15 million; two-way contracts start around $550,000.
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James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Focus, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.