13
Feb
Aussies in the NBA
'Joke(r)': Giddey World snub despite Nikola numbers
Australian Josh Giddey #3 of the Chicago Bulls reacts to a no call during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 30, 2025 (AEDT) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Photo: Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Highlights
Josh Giddey’s All-Star snub must be injury-related because his '25-26 Bulls season has been historic
- Australian Josh Giddey's 2026 NBA All-Star Game snub
- Australian Jock Landale's Atlanta Hawks 'debut for the ages'
- Why the 1987 All-Star Game is the greatest of them all
The only explanation for Australian point guard Josh Giddey's Eastern Conference and Team World 2026 All-Star Game snub must be injury because his Chicago Bulls numbers don't lie.
Giddey, 23, is just one of two players averaging more than 18.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game; the other is 30-year-old three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić.
He missed out on selection to Team World as part of the reinvented (again) All-Star Game format in Los Angeles, California, this weekend.
The Melbourne-born Australian Boomer produced seven triple-doubles in 29 games before suffering a hamstring strain on December 30, 2025, against Joe Ingles' Minnesota Timberwolves. His seventh was the fastest in Bulls history (20:20 minutes).
- Dec 23, 2025 – CHI @ ATL (W 126–123) │ 36 MIN │ 19 PTS │ 11 REB │ 15 AST │ 8–15 FG │ 2–5 3PT │ 1–2 FT │ 7 TOV
- Dec 17, 2025 – CHI vs CLE (W 127–111) │ 34 MIN │ 23 PTS │ 11 REB │ 11 AST │ 8–18 FG │ 5–11 3PT │ 2–2 FT │ 3 TOV
- Dec 3, 2025 – CHI vs BRK (L 103–113) │ 36 MIN │ 28 PTS │ 11 REB │ 11 AST │ 10–14 FG │ 0–2 3PT │ 8–11 FT │ 3 TOV
- Nov 22, 2025 – CHI vs WAS (W 121–120) │ 34 MIN │ 18 PTS │ 12 REB │ 11 AST │ 5–12 FG │ 2–3 3PT │ 6–7 FT │ 2 TOV
- Nov 16, 2025 – CHI @ UTA (L 147–150 2OT) │ 42 MIN │ 26 PTS │ 13 REB │ 13 AST │ 9–21 FG │ 2–7 3PT │ 6–7 FT │ 6 TOV
- Nov 4, 2025 – CHI vs PHI (W 113–111) │ 37 MIN │ 29 PTS │ 15 REB │ 12 AST │ 10–19 FG │ 2–4 3PT │ 7–8 FT │ 5 TOV
- Nov 2, 2025 – CHI @ NYK (L 116–128) │ 38 MIN │ 23 PTS │ 11 REB │ 12 AST │ 10–19 FG │ 1–5 3PT │ 2–2 FT │ 4 TOV
Giddey missed 12 games at the start of January and has been in and out of the Bulls line-up since with load management and hamstring soreness. He wouldn't be the first player in NBA history to be selected to the All-Star that is injured to be replaced by the next man up.
Before his injury, NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett was adamant that Giddey would be an NBA All-Star in 2026.
"Josh Giddey, Giddey, Giddey. Definitely, Giddey's in," Garnett said to KG Certified co-host Paul Pierce on his podcast.
"Giddey's getting money."
The two NBA Hall of Famers were talking about which players would make the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, including Garnett telling viewers not to waste their vote on Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. Garnett said LeBron wouldn't play regardless, as he did last year.
Pierce said to Garnett he'd named the Melbourne-born point guard earlier in the season, but KG "wasn't rolling with me".
Garnett responded: "At the time, you asked me if I would take Giddey over somebody, and at the time I said 'no'.
"Giddey is gettin' it. Shout out to Josh, man."
Before his injury, Giddey was averaging 19.5 points per game, 9.1 assists, and 9.2 rebounds.
He is just three triple-doubles away from equaling Michael Jordan's career triple-double total of 28. Giddey has 25 total.
This season alone, Giddey has passed Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Charles Barkley, and Walt Frazier on the all-time triple-double list.
His 25th equalled Portland Trail Blazers Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler.
Giddey's NBA career is already historic — at 23, the Melbourne-born point guard is in the company of Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Oscar Robertson.
Jordan, Magic, Bird, Grant Hill, and Jason Kidd each had 20 triple-doubles in their first five season. All five are in the Hall of Fame.
Giddey is also in a club all of his own. He is the youngest, second youngest, third youngest AND forth youngest player in NBA history to record a triple double.
2026 All-Star Game Schedule
Four 12-minute games:
- Game 1: USA Stars vs World
- Game 2: USA Stripes vs winning team of Game 1
- Game 3: USA Stripes vs losing team of Game 1
- Game 4: All-Star Championship (top two teams from round-robin play)
If all three teams finish 1-1 after the round-robin games, the first tiebreaker will be point differential across each team’s two games.
Team USA Stars
- Scottie Barnes
- Devin Booker
- Cade Cunningham
- Jalen Duren
- Anthony Edwards
- Chet Holmgren
- Jalen Johnson
- Tyrese Maxey
Team USA Stripes
- Jaylen Brown
- Jalen Brunson
- Stephen Curry (injured, will not play)
- Kevin Durant
- Brandon Ingram
- LeBron James
- Kawhi Leonard
- Donovan Mitchell
- Norman Powell
Team World
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (injured, will not play)
- Deni Avdija
- Luka Dončić
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (injured, will not play)
- Nikola Jokić
- Jamal Murray
- Alperen Sengun
- Pascal Siakam
- Karl-Anthony Towns
- Victor Wembanyama
.jpg)
