To Josh Giddey’s credit, he has found a way to impact the box score on a nightly basis to start his Chicago Bulls career. The guard is averaging 13.6 points, 7.0 assists, and 6.6 rebounds over his first nine games. On the surface, yes, it speaks to the kind of all-around skillset Giddey possesses. If we dig a bit deeper, however, it doesn’t tell the whole story.
The Josh Giddey experience can be summed up by two VERY different stats, in my opinion. Let’s review those.
35.8 AST%
The Chicago Bulls have desperately needed a primary facilitator, and they found one in Josh Giddey. There is no denying the 22-year-old’s passing skills. He was one of only four players to receive a mention for the NBA’s “best passer” in the annual GM Survey for a reason. Few guards in the league possess his blend of court vision and finesse. And this is a major reason why the Bulls’ offense has looked so different to start the year.
The Bulls are currently operating at the league’s highest PACE and shooting the fifth-most threes per game. Giddey is a motivating factor behind both numbers, as he’s constantly looking to push the ball up the floor and keep the offense moving. Whether it be via the drive-and-kick or a courageous cross-court feed, Giddey is also setting up his teammates with open looks behind the arc more than any other player. He is responsible for almost a quarter of the Bulls’ assisted three-point makes so far this season. This included setting up eight of the team’s 15 threes against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 7.
When you have someone with Giddey’s passing talent, players are far more willing to move with purpose off the ball. The Bulls are trusting that their hustle will be paid off so far this year, and Giddey is why. He is now up to 63 assists on the season, which is the eighth-most in the NBA. His 35.8 AST% is also third among players who appeared in at least nine games this season. In other words, he’s assisting on 35.8 percent of the Bulls’ baskets when he’s on the floor. Only Trae Young (44.5) and Chris Paul (41.4) rank in front of him.
Now, is Giddey a tad turnover-happy at times? Yes, but he has also made fewer mistakes than five of the seven players who sit in front of him in total assists. When we consider the Bulls’ goal to establish a more modern offensive identity this season, Giddey has already shown he can be a key component.
-9.9
While Josh Giddey should be praised for his distributing skills, he’s been far from a perfect player. Nothing reflects this more than his nightly plus-minus. Giddey has consistently finished in the negatives, averaging a -9.9 through his first nine games of the year. This happens to be the seventh-worst plus-minus on a per-game basis in the NBA, while his -89 overall is the third-worst in the league. Yikes.
Look, plus-minus isn’t a flawless metric. Chicago’s all-around poor play contributes to this very ugly number. But that doesn’t mean Giddey is entirely off the hook. The truth is that this stat speaks to Giddey’s weaknesses, especially on the defensive end. Opposing teams are a +14.6 when Josh Giddey is on the floor this season, which Cleaning the Glass ranks in the league’s 6th percentile.
Guards and wings alike have had zero problems blowing past Giddey for easy looks at the rim. The effort to hustle back in transition has also left a lot to be desired at times. Chicago is offering up a league-high 58.2 points in the paint per season, and Giddey’s inability to either disrupt the point of attack or stick with his man is part of the problem.
Giddey’s plus-minus is also being dragged down by his inability to score at an efficient rate. For as many buckets as he sets up for his teammates, he can’t seem to create anything for himself consistently. He’s shooting only 46 percent at the rim to begin the season despite some crafty handles and an imposing six-foot-eight frame. The bizarre thing is that he’s actually shooting shockingly well from behind the arc for once. If he could simply finish stronger inside, this plus-minus could be looking a little better.
So does this mean he should be viewed as a net negative moving forward? No, but this is why the Oklahoma City Thunder were ultimately ok with moving on from him. While having one elite skillset is always a plus, he still has to develop into a true winning player.