21
Dec
Aussies in the NBA
'No Bull!' Giddey's Boston date with Jordan destiny
Josh Giddey #3 of the Chicago Bulls/ handles the ball during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 20, 2025 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo: David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
Highlights
Josh Giddey’s triple-double pace has him climbing Bulls history and tracking toward Michael Jordan
- Josh Giddey passes New York Knicks legend as Bulls find form
- Every Josh Giddey Chicago Bulls game in 2025-26
- Josh Giddey's full NBA Profile
Australian Josh Giddey is just 23 years old but he's rising further into the "Rare Air" of the second greatest NBA player of all-time, Michael Jordan.
Giddey has delivered six triple doubles in 25 games for the Chicago Bulls to start the 2025-26 season. He has 24 in his career, his latest took him past New York Knicks legend Walt 'Clyde' Frazier, who had 23.
The Melbourne-born point guard is already in the company of Hall of Famers 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.
Just the Triple Double Facts
- Josh Giddey's six triple doubles in 24 games (4 games per) is second only to Nikola Jokic's career pace of 3.8
- Michael Jordan's all-time Bulls record for triple doubles in a single season is seven in the 1988-89 season.
- Michael has the most in Bulls history with 28.
- Josh Giddey will equal Clyde "The Glyde" Drexler (25) with his next triple double
- He will pass Drexler and equal Los Angeles Lakers OG and Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor (26).
- Giddey's 10th triple double of the season will equal Jordan (28)
- Giddey's performance tracker predicts he will record his 29th career triple-double in late January 2026 — most likely on January 25 against Boston at home.
Projected game & date
The 20th game after December 19 lands here: Sunday, January 25, 2026
Boston Celtics @ Chicago Bulls & 12PM (AEDT)
That matchup projects as the most likely point where Giddey records career triple-double #29, assuming:
- health continuity
- stable minutes
- unchanged usage and rebounding role
Triple-Double Probability Window (Jan 23–27)
Chicago @ Minnesota Timberwolves
Friday, January 23, 2026 – Away
Minnesota Timberwolves
Why it’s tougher
- Minnesota is a strong defensive rebounding team — limits guard boards.
- Slower pace, more half-court possessions.
- Away game → slightly reduced assist ceiling.
Triple-double pathway
- Assists + rebounds need to carry; points usually safe.
- Requires an unusually high rebounding night for a guard.
Estimated probability: 15–18%
Likelihood rank: Lowest of the three
Boston Celtics @ Chicago (Projected milestone game)
Sunday, January 25, 2026 – Home
Boston Celtics
Why this is the sweet spot
- Boston’s switch-heavy defence funnels playmaking to primary handlers.
- Celtics concede assist opportunities to big guards initiating offence.
- Home game.
- Giddey already has multiple triple-doubles vs elite teams this season.
Triple-double pathway
- Points + assists are highly reliable.
- Rebounds achievable if game stays competitive (likely).
Estimated probability: 30–35%
Likelihood rank: Highest
Los Angeles Lakers @ Chicago
Tuesday, January 27, 2026 – Home
Los Angeles Lakers
Why it’s volatile
- Lakers play faster, boosting assist and rebound volume.
- However, ball-dominant stars can compress assist distribution.
- Blowout risk either way slightly caps minutes.
Triple-double pathway
- Easier rebound path than Boston.
- Assist total depends on Bulls secondary scoring efficiency.
Estimated probability: 22–26%
Likelihood rank: Medium
Josh Giddey 2025-26 Season
- Games: 25 │ Games Started: 25 │ Minutes: 33.5 mpg │ Points: 20.1 │ Rebounds: 9.2 │ Assists: 8.8 │ Steals: 1.0 │ Blocks: 0.4FG: 47.6% │ 3PT: 40.5% │ FT: 75.6% │ Turnovers: 3.6 │ Plus/Minus: –21 (team context)
Josh Giddey's 2025-26 Triple-Doubles
@ New York Knicks
- November 2, 2025 — Loss 116–128
- 23 PTS │ 11 REB │ 12 AST
vs Philadelphia 76ers
- November 4, 2025 — Win 113–111
- 29 PTS │ 15 REB │ 12 AST
@ Utah Jazz (2OT)
- November 16, 2025 — Loss 147–150
- 26 PTS │ 13 REB │ 13 AST
vs Washington Wizards
- November 22, 2025 — Win 121–120
- 18 PTS │ 12 REB │ 11 AST
vs Brooklyn Nets
- December 3, 2025 — Loss 103–113
- 28 PTS │ 11 REB │ 11 AST
vs Cleveland Cavaliers
- December 17, 2025 — Win 127–111
- 23 PTS │ 11 REB │ 11 AST
