CHICAGO — Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey is expected to miss at least a couple weeks with a left hamstring strain.
Initially listed on Chicago’s injury report with hamstring tightness Tuesday evening, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the diagnosis of Giddey’s injury was indeed a strain — a shift in severity from what’d been signaled. Team sources confirmed the diagnoses to The Athletic.
It’s unclear exactly how he sustained the injury. Giddey limped off the floor early in Monday’s second half versus the Minnesota Timberwolves, gripping his hamstring after a routine trip up the floor versus full-court pressure.
During Chicago’s 15-17 start, sitting firmly at ninth in the Eastern Conference, Giddey missed just two games to injury. Through 30 appearances, he’s averaged career-highs in points (19.2) points, rebounds (8.9) and assists (9.0) while shooting a career-best 38.6 percent from 3 on 4.8 attempts per game.
Giddey’s extended absence adds to a series of brutal blows for the Bulls. Prior to a 136-101 home loss to the Wolves on Monday, coach Billy Donovan announced that center Zach Collins would miss at least a week with a toe injury. Collins had recently returned from injury which coincided with the Bulls returning to full health (save for rookie Noa Essengue’s season-ending shoulder injury) for the first time this season, allowing Chicago to tinker with different lineups.
Well before Giddey’s premature exit Monday, guard Coby White left during the first quarter, and did not return. He was listed out for Wednesday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans with right calf tightness, the same calf that held him out for multiple months across the summer and early season.
As the Bulls’ yearn for health and clarity on what its current group is — a team that includes seven expiring contracts — Giddey has remained a necessary crutch. According to NBA.com, he ranks fourth in the NBA with 95.5 touches per game; the next closest Bulls player is Nikola Vucevic (67.1).
Giddey also ranks third on the Bulls with 41 clutch-time points, shooting 46.7 percent overall and 42.9 percent from 3 in such situations.
His playing style and Chicago’s prioritization of him enabled their offensive pivot, and it’s seemingly influenced their decisions. With roughly five weeks until the NBA trade deadline, Giddey’s absence could underscore some glaring roster issues.
As of Monday afternoon, initial fan returns showed that Giddey was 14th in All-Star voting among the East with 115,000 votes. While this season’s game removed positions, tracking toward what might in any other year tighten Giddey’s window, the league is also initiating a new format of three eight-man rosters — one of which includes a world team meant to represent non-American players.
Giddey, an Australia native, has compiled a fine case with gaudy averages; his seven triple-doubles so far this season trail only Michael Jordan (15 in 1988-89) for the most in a single season by any Bulls player. His 14 overall such outings trail only Jordan (28) and Scottie Pippen (15) for the most in franchise history.