Josh Giddey showed up to Chicago Bulls media day in 2026 sounding like a player who knows exactly where he stands - and where this next version of the Bulls might be headed.
Now entering his sixth NBA season, Giddey carried himself with the kind of calm that fits the moment around him. The Bulls are in a new era, one without the executive who brought him in, Arturas Karnisovas, and without the coach who built an offense around his strengths and covered for his shortcomings, Billy Donovan.
That change reaches beyond the front office and sideline. Chicago is also headed toward a very different starting group than the one it rolled out in the 2025-26 season, when Nikola Vucevic and Coby White - the final two major starters from the Karnisovas era - moved on after the 2026 NBA trade deadline.
So Giddey enters 2026-27 as a steady presence in the middle of a lot of turnover. And the fit around him could be his best yet.
Tiago Splitter wants speed in decision-making and pace in possessions, while Giddey still brings the burst in transition that has always made him dangerous. Add Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson on the wings, and the Bulls suddenly have a shape that can put Giddey in the kind of offense that makes sense for him.
The real question is how Chicago balances the ball-handling. Giddey has shown he understands the value of sharing that load with his wings, and that kind of distribution could push his game to another level.
Splitter, according to Giddey’s media day comments, has not yet put in half-court principles. Even so, there are obvious modern actions the Bulls can use to get Giddey moving and involved without having him dominate every possession.
“Get” actions should be one of the simplest answers. That old give-and-go setup would let Giddey pass to Wilson or Buzelis, then relocate and get it right back. The payoff is straightforward: more downhill chances at the rim and more catch-and-shoot threes.
He can also be used as a ball-screener, especially for Buzelis or Wilson. That would open another lane for Giddey to pop out for a shot after the screen, again nudging up his catch-and-shoot volume.
If Splitter leans into his EuroLeague background, the Bulls could also use plenty of Iverson cuts. Giddey would be a natural candidate for those actions, staying in motion and either creating an advantage or sliding into open space for a shot.
And then there’s the more old-school wrinkle: pindowns. The article points to Nic Claxton setting the screen for Giddey to run off, freeing him for a catch-and-shoot three. It’s not flashy, but it’s another way to keep him active and put his shooting in a better spot.
For a player entering a new chapter with a new coach, new voices around him, and a new supporting cast, the path is pretty clear. The Bulls have a chance to build something that fits Giddey instead of forcing him to fit something else.
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Bulls Camp Battle For Final Roster Spots Just Got Real
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Chicago has one permanent roster spot and one two-way opening left to sort through, which makes the next few weeks especially meaningful for the players trying to stick. A few names are in the mix for those jobs, and every practice rep matters when a team is trying to balance development, depth and fit under a new coaching staff. The competition is real already, and it only figures to get tighter as camp moves forward. [Read more 🡒]