Josh Giddey began his Olympic career in the 2024 men’s 5-on-5 basketball tournament, helping Australia secure a 92-80 victory over Spain in the opening game. The recent Chicago Bulls acquisition delivered a solid performance with 17 points (7/12 FG), eight rebounds, eight assists, and five turnovers in 29 minutes.
Josh Giddey’s Strengths on Display
Giddey showcased his renowned passing abilities, particularly in the transition offense, exemplified by a notable play at the 4:03 mark of the second quarter. His half-court passing was also impressive, especially with short roll passes and post passing in split actions, reminiscent of Draymond Green in the NBA.
Beyond the Box Score
Bulls fans have reasons to be excited about Giddey’s Olympic debut, but there are aspects of his game beyond the statistics that warrant attention. Defensively, Giddey struggled on the perimeter, often getting caught on screens, which was evident in the second quarter when a failed screen navigation led to an uncontested three-pointer by Sergio Llull.
Offensively, Giddey showed a commitment to attacking the rim but had mixed results. He committed an offensive foul late in the second quarter by lowering his shoulder on a drive. His shot selection near the rim consisted mainly of contested floaters and layups, and he missed a crucial layup in the fourth quarter. Bulls fans might be concerned about his ability to finish at the rim against longer, more athletic NBA defenders.
Giddey’s first Olympic game suggests he needs to build more strength to improve his finishing at the rim and screen navigation on defense. While some may argue that, at 21, he still has time to develop, Giddey has already completed three NBA seasons as a starter. Therefore, his development will soon need to be evaluated as that of an NBA veteran rather than an emerging
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