Josh Giddey in 'Rare Air' with Jokic-style last five

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Australian Boomers and Chicago Bulls point guard Josh Giddey turned the frustration of being on a minutes restriction into a historic triple-double run in his past five games.

Josh Giddey — Last 5 Games

Minutes: 37.7 │ Points: 19.4 │ Rebounds: 10.6 │ Assists: 12.2 │ Steals: 1.2 │ Blocks: 0.2 │ Turnovers: 4.0 │ FG: 44.1% │ 3PT: 43.8% │ FT: 62.5%

The 23-year-old’s 29th triple-double (20-11-10) against the Los Angeles Clippers yesterday (March 14, 2026) took him past Michael Jordan’s career total of 28.

It has Giddey’s 11th of the season in 45 games.

There have been just three players this season to average a +10 points, +10 rebounds, and +10 assists triple-double in a five-game stretch: Nikola Jokić; Giddey; and Jalen Johnson.

Giddey has done it nine times this season, while Johnson has done it seven. For context, former MVP Jokić owns the list.

Giddey strained his hamstring against Joe Ingles’ Minnesota Timberwolves on December 30, 2025 and most of January. He missed 11 games and returned against Minnesota on January 23, but was on a minutes restriction coming off the bench. He played four games, then sat out another eight.

Giddey came back against the Toronto Raptors on February 20, 2026 (AEDT) and played 21 minutes as a starter. Head Coach Billy Donovan has since ramped up his minutes, culminating in almost 37 minutes per game in his last six.

“I’m back. Back playing. That’s it,” Giddey said before facing Toronto three weeks ago.

“It was different, and it was new for me — and different not being able to play.

“Trying to help from the sideline as much as I can in timeouts and during practices.

“Being back out there now is good because I can help guys on the fly — whether it’s with the offence, defence, and stuff.

“For me, it doesn’t change. Winning is still the number one priority.”

It’s something the Bulls have struggled with after starting the season on a 6-0 tear.

Chicago is 27-40 and 6.5 games out of the final play-in spot held by Australian Boomers teammate Josh Green’s Charlotte Hornets at 34-34.

Josh Giddey's 2025-26 Triple Doubles

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| Rk | Date       | Age    | Team |   | Opp | Result            | GS | MP | FG | FGA | FG%  | 2P | 2PA | 2P%  | 3P | 3PA | 3P%  | FT | FTA | FT%  | TS%  | ORB | DRB | TRB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | PTS | GmSc | BPM | +/- | Pos |
+----+------------+--------+------+---+-----+-------------------+----+----+----+-----+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+-----+------+-----+-----+-----+
|  1 | 2026-03-13 | 23-154 | CHI  | @ | LAC | L, 108-119        |  * | 39 |  8 |  20 | .400 |  4 |   9 | .444 |  4 |  11 | .364 |  0 |   0 |      | .500 |   2 |   9 |  11 |  10 |   2 |   1 |   2 |  3 |  20 | 19.8 | 6.7 | -1  |  G  |
|  2 | 2026-03-10 | 23-151 | CHI  | @ | GSW | W, 130-124 (OT)   |  * | 43 |  7 |  16 | .438 |  3 |   7 | .429 |  4 |   9 | .444 |  3 |   4 | .750 | .591 |   2 |  11 |  13 |  17 |   0 |   0 |   5 |  4 |  21 | 22.2 | 5.3 | 14  |  G  |
|  3 | 2026-03-08 | 23-149 | CHI  | @ | SAC | L, 110-126        |  * | 34 |  6 |  13 | .462 |  4 |   7 | .571 |  2 |   6 | .333 |  1 |   1 |1.000 | .558 |   1 |  11 |  12 |  10 |   1 |   0 |   3 |  0 |  15 | 17.3 | 2.8 |  0  |  G  |
|  4 | 2026-03-01 | 23-142 | CHI  |   | MIL | W, 120-97         |  * | 32 |  7 |  14 | .500 |  2 |   3 | .667 |  5 |  11 | .455 |  1 |   1 |1.000 | .693 |   3 |  11 |  14 |  10 |   2 |   1 |   4 |  0 |  20 | 24.1 |11.6 | 26  |  G  |
|  5 | 2025-12-23 | 23-074 | CHI  | @ | ATL | W, 126-123        |  * | 36 |  8 |  15 | .533 |  6 |  10 | .600 |  2 |   5 | .400 |  1 |   2 | .500 | .598 |   1 |  10 |  11 |  15 |   0 |   0 |   7 |  1 |  19 | 18.1 | 2.5 |  4  |  G  |
|  6 | 2025-12-17 | 23-068 | CHI  |   | CLE | W, 127-111        |  * | 34 |  8 |  18 | .444 |  3 |   7 | .429 |  5 |  11 | .455 |  2 |   2 |1.000 | .609 |   0 |  11 |  11 |  11 |   2 |   1 |   3 |  2 |  23 | 23.5 |10.2 | 15  |  G  |
|  7 | 2025-12-03 | 23-054 | CHI  |   | BRK | L, 103-113        |  * | 36 | 10 |  14 | .714 | 10 |  12 | .833 |  0 |   2 | .000 |  8 |  11 | .727 | .743 |   2 |   9 |  11 |  11 |   0 |   0 |   3 |  0 |  28 | 29.8 |13.6 |  3  |  G  |
|  8 | 2025-11-22 | 23-043 | CHI  |   | WAS | W, 121-120        |  * | 34 |  5 |  12 | .417 |  3 |   9 | .333 |  2 |   3 | .667 |  6 |   7 | .857 | .597 |   1 |  11 |  12 |  11 |   3 |   1 |   2 |  2 |  18 | 23.8 |12.9 |  3  |  G  |
|  9 | 2025-11-16 | 23-037 | CHI  | @ | UTA | L, 147-150 (2OT)  |  * | 42 |  9 |  21 | .429 |  7 |  14 | .500 |  2 |   7 | .286 |  6 |   7 | .857 | .540 |   2 |  11 |  13 |  13 |   2 |   2 |   6 |  2 |  26 | 24.9 | 3.4 | -3  |  G  |
| 10 | 2025-11-04 | 23-025 | CHI  |   | PHI | W, 113-111        |  * | 37 | 10 |  19 | .526 |  8 |  15 | .533 |  2 |   4 | .500 |  7 |   8 | .875 | .644 |   3 |  12 |  15 |  12 |   1 |   0 |   5 |  3 |  29 | 28.2 | 8.8 |  8  |  G  |
| 11 | 2025-11-02 | 23-023 | CHI  | @ | NYK | L, 116-128        |  * | 38 | 10 |  19 | .526 |  9 |  14 | .643 |  1 |   5 | .200 |  2 |   2 |1.000 | .578 |   2 |   9 |  11 |  12 |   2 |   0 |   4 |  2 |  23 | 23.4 | 6.0 |  0  |  G  |
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🇦🇺 Josh Giddey’s Return From Injury – Game-by-Game Breakdown

Phase 1 – Rust & Re-Integration (Feb 19–24)

• ‍Games: 4
• ‍Record: 0–4
• ‍Minutes: ~24.8 mpg

Production

• 6.0 points
• 3.5 rebounds
• 4.8 assists
• 20% FG (6/28)
• 0/7 from three

What it showed

• Rhythm clearly off offensively — struggled finishing and creating efficient looks.
• Playmaking instincts still present (5 assists vs Toronto, 6 vs New York).
• Defensive activity steady (multiple steals).
• The Bulls struggled badly during this stretch (–22, –14, –22 plus/minus games).

Phase 2 – First Breakthrough (Feb 26)

vs Portland:

• 15 points – 6 rebounds – 9 assists
• 6/9 FG (66.7%)
• +13

Significance

• First efficient scoring night.
• Offensive decision-making returned.
• Triple-double rhythm indicators emerged.

This game was the turning point in the return stretch.

Phase 3 – Full Impact Return (Mar 1–Mar 13)

• ‍Games: 7 (played 6 – DNP once)
• ‍Minutes: ~36.8 mpg
• ‍Team Record: 2–4

Averages

• 19.5 points
• 11.2 rebounds
• 11.8 assists
• 48.4% FG
• 41.5% from three (24 attempts)

Key Performances

vs Milwaukee

• 20 – 14 – 10 triple-double
• +26 impact
• Controlled pace and glass.

@ Sacramento

• 15 – 12 – 10 triple-double
• Continued elite rebounding guard role.

@ Golden State

• 21 – 13 – 17
• Career-level playmaking volume.

@ Los Angeles Lakers

• 27 – 8 – 15
• 6-from-9 from three – perimeter leap.

@ Los Angeles Clippers

• 20 – 11 – 10 triple-double

Performance Trends

1. Scoring Confidence Returned First

• FG% jumped from 21% → ~50%.
• Three-point willingness increased dramatically (0 attempts early → high-volume pull-ups).

2. Rebounding Role Expanded

• Averaging double-digit rebounds post-Feb 26.
• Functioning as a transition initiator off defensive boards.

3. Usage & Minutes Spike

• Jump from ~25 mpg → ~40 mpg.
• Clearly trusted as primary creator.

4. Elite Playmaking Ceiling

• Three games with 15+ assists pace projection.
• Triple-double frequency increased rapidly.

Team Record

Despite Giddey’s surge:

• Bulls went 2–6
• Defensive rating and opponent scoring remained major issues (126 allowed vs DET, 142 vs LAL).
• Giddey’s impact is often offensive-tilted rather than two-way game-changing.

Overall Return Summary

Giddey’s injury return followed a classic ramp trajectory:

• Week 1: Rust – inefficient scoring, limited rhythm.
• Week 2: Stabilisation – efficiency and control returned.
• Week 3: Explosion – triple-double dominance and primary engine status.

From Feb 26 onwards, he has played at an All-Star level: ~20–11–12

This stretch may be the most complete all-around run of his NBA season.