Josh Giddey: From a 'cheeky kid' to passing Michael Jordan

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Andrew Gaze's recollection of how Josh Giddey has gone from local basketball at the Melbourne Tigers to passing Michael Jordan on an NBA all-time record list is as good as anyones.

The NBL's GOAT, who played alongside the Chicago Bulls star's dad Warwick at the Tigers, has known Giddey "since he came out of the womb" and spoke about the Australian Boomers point guard recently passing Jordan on the league's list for most ever triple-doubles as well as eclipsing Scottie Pippen on the Bulls' all-time triple double list on the latest edition of the Cut to the Jase podcast with Jason Cadee.

Giddey recorded his 29th triple-double against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday, to move into 20th on the NBA's record list, passing Jordan who had 28 in his illustrious career.

"With Josh Giddey, it's a bit different for me because I've known him since he came out of the womb," Gaze said on the basketball.com.au podcast.

"Being there his whole (time), I remember him as a smartass cheeky little kid and then seeing him now, it's a little different for me as the way in which I watch him.

"But never in your wildest dreams would you think of how it all could pan out in a good way.

"Who would have ever thought that he's having his records compared to Scottie Pippen and Michael (Jordan)?

"I mean that is just hard to fathom how that would be the case.

"So yeah he's great, he looks like he's loved by his teammates and he's going to have a long and and by the look of things successful career."

Giddey, who was drafted sixth overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2021, has turned into a completely different beast since his trade to the Bulls, putting up all-star calibre numbers this season 18 points, 8.8 assists and 8.4 rebounds.

But the more impressive factor in his recent rise is his three-point shooting, where he's making a career-high 38.6% from beyond the arc, making it near impossible for opposing defenders to sag under ball screens like they have done in the past - as shown by his recent performances, including against the Los Angeles Lakers where he connected on 6-from-9 triples.

Gaze said Giddey's ability to adapt and improve, especially since his trade from Oklahoma City, has led him to reach this mark in his career.

"Josh has just been incredible the way in which he's been able to adapt, continually improve the three-ball, it's been incredible the way in which he's been able to build on that," he said.

"I think it's also reflective of the work that he does. The amount of work it takes in order to do it, technique is important but becoming a good shooter is labor intensive.

"It can be laborious and it can be one that the difference between the great ones and the good ones is just work. It's just hours you put in.

"They might have two people that have very similar techniques. The person that's going to put that extra work in is the one that's generally going to get the better results. I think Giddey falls in that category that he just puts in the work."

While Giddey has shown he is the man for the Bulls going forward and Chicago's front office has echoed those thoughts after the trade deadline, where they sent out former backcourt partner Coby White to the Charlotte Hornets.

But Gaze said he hoped the Bulls front office could do what they need to help the franchise return to a playoff-calibre team.

"The Chicago Bulls are an interesting one though," Gaze said.

"I talked to a lot of people over there and and not all of them speak highly of the management and how in which they're going to build this team.

"So, hopefully they can get some pieces around him and they can get back to the Chicago Gulls that we all remember."