CHICAGO — In the wake of a seismic shake-up in the front office, Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey offered a measured, professional perspective on the franchise’s turbulent present and uncertain future.
Giddey, who had been away from the team for the past week recovering from a lingering left hamstring injury, addressed reporters on Friday. The Bulls had just announced that he would miss the remainder of the 2025-26 regular season to avoid further aggravating the soft-tissue issue that had plagued him multiple times throughout the campaign.
The timing of his return to the spotlight was anything but routine. Earlier this week, the Bulls fired executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley, a move that sent ripples through the organization as the team prepares for a critical off-season.
Giddey took the high road, acknowledging the harsh realities of the NBA business while expressing gratitude for the relationships he built.
“I understand the business side of basketball and, just like players when we’re not performing or living up to expectations, kind of the nature of the business,” Giddey said. “Obviously, I built a relationship with [Karnisovas] and Marc while they were here, and I appreciate everything they did for me — bringing me here, extending me. So [I’m] very grateful for my time with them. But it’s part of the business, and that’s how it goes sometimes.”
He added: “Similar to players, when you don’t perform, your job can be in jeopardy, and that goes for anybody in the building. I didn’t expect it or not expect it. I really didn’t think about it too much. These decisions are all a part of the business we’re in, and when ownership feels that a change is needed, they make those decisions accordingly. It’s sad because of the human aspect, the relationships you build with those people. But it’s a business, and I’m sure those guys will be all right.”
With the front office now in transition, attention turns to head coach Billy Donovan, whose future remains unresolved. Donovan is scheduled to meet with Bulls ownership after the team’s final game of the season on Sunday in Dallas. Giddey was unequivocal in his support for the veteran coach.
“He’s been awesome,” Giddey said. “I’ve loved him ever since I got here. He’s been very straightforward, and I think all the guys would say the same thing. He’s very direct. He tells you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear, and he gives it to you straight. He coaches hard; he wants to win every game. You see how competitive he is on the sidelines. I couldn’t speak highly enough about him. I hope he’s here for a long time.”
Giddey noted he had not yet spoken with Donovan about the situation but planned to do so soon.
On the court, the 2025-26 season fell short of expectations for the Bulls, who failed to push into the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference and missed the postseason momentum many had hoped for. Giddey was candid about both team and individual performance.
“I thought it was all right,” he said of his own season. “I thought it was growth over last year. It doesn’t count for a lot if you’re not winning games, and we didn’t finish anywhere near [where] we wanted to at the end of the regular 82 games.
“I thought individually I was OK, up and down. But I’ve got to find ways to impact winning, and that’s probably the next step for me as a player.”
Despite the disappointments, the Bulls appear poised to build around a young core. Giddey and forward Matas Buzelis are viewed as the two foundational pieces the franchise hopes to develop into cornerstones, provided both continue making significant strides in the coming years.
As for Giddey personally, the immediate plan is straightforward: a brief reset back home in Australia, followed by targeted work to fortify his hamstring and refine his overall game to become a more consistent winning contributor.
In a season marked by inconsistency, injuries, and now front-office upheaval, Giddey’s comments reflect a player who understands the brutal economics of the NBA while remaining committed to growth — both his own and the franchise’s.
The Bulls’ 2025-26 campaign officially ends Sunday. What comes next — from coaching stability to roster construction under new leadership — will define whether Chicago can finally move beyond mediocrity and toward sustainable contention.
For now, Giddey’s message is clear: the business of basketball marches on, relationships matter, but winning remains the ultimate currency. The next chapter for the Bulls — and for the Australian guard at the center of their rebuild hopes — is just beginning.