It’s a season of personal milestones for Chicago Bulls point guard Josh Giddey, and on Thursday night at the United Center, he delivered one for the history books that no one saw coming quite like this.
The Australian star dished out a career-high 19 assists in the Bulls’ tight 115-110 loss to Eastern Conference contenders the Cleveland Cavaliers. That mark not only shattered his previous personal best of 17, but it also wiped away a franchise drought that had lingered since February 1985—when Ennis Whatley last reached such heights for Chicago. Forty-one years of waiting, and in one electric performance, Giddey made the old record look ancient.
Making it even more impressive, the 23-year-old exploded for a career-high 12 dimes in the first half alone, setting the tone for a display of vision and playmaking that nearly engineered a miracle comeback. The Bulls trailed by as many as 28 points at home, yet Giddey’s relentless facilitation kept them alive, turning a blowout into a nail-biter.
He finished with nine points (4-of-11 from the field, 1-of-5 from three) and six rebounds to go with those 19 assists—numbers that don’t scream scoring dominance but scream elite facilitation. This wasn’t about padding stats; it was about orchestrating chaos into opportunity, feeding teammates in transition, in the half-court, everywhere. The total was also the highest by an Aussie in NBA history, adding another layer to Giddey’s growing legacy Down Under.
The performance marked a dominant return to form for Giddey, who had one of his worst outings the previous day—just nine points, zero rebounds, and only three assists in a home loss to the Toronto Raptors. Bounce-back games happen, but this was next-level redemption. Over the past month, he’s been on a tear: passing Michael Jordan and Grant Hill on the NBA’s all-time triple-double list, surpassing Scottie Pippen to claim second place among Bulls players in career triple-doubles. The kid who once held the record as the youngest triple-double maker in league history is now rewriting Chicago’s record book.
Looking back on the four-year, $100 million extension he signed in the offseason, it appears the Chicago front office secured an absolute bargain. Locking in the cornerstone of their franchise long-term on such favorable terms looks even smarter now. Giddey isn’t just contributing—he’s transforming into the kind of floor general who can single-handedly shift momentum, even in defeat.
In a night where the Bulls couldn’t quite complete the comeback, Giddey ensured the loss felt secondary to the spectacle. He didn’t just break a record; he erased four decades of franchise history in one fell swoop. The United Center witnessed something unprecedented, and the Bulls faithful won’t soon forget it.
Absolute madness, indeed. Josh Giddey has arrived—and the league is taking notice.