Giddey's Galactic Run: Bulls Find Their Rhythm in Memphis

Remember when everyone was ready to write off Josh Giddey? Scratch that, remember when *I* was ready to write off Josh Giddey? Well, the kid's on a tear, and it’s making the Chicago Bulls look a whole lot more interesting. Monday night, Giddey put up a ridiculous 16 points, 15 rebounds, and 13 assists against a beleaguered Memphis Grizzlies squad, notching his fourth triple-double in the last five games. That’s not just good, that’s historic for a player still finding his footing in the league.

The Bulls didn't just win; they blew out the Grizzlies 132-107, handing Memphis their eighth straight loss. It was a wire-to-wire domination, the kind of performance that makes you wonder if this Bulls team, which has often looked disjointed, is finally clicking. DeMar DeRozan led the scoring with 27 points on efficient shooting, hitting 10 of his 16 attempts. Nikola Vucevic added a solid 20 points and 12 rebounds, doing his usual dirty work in the paint. But Giddey was the engine. He controlled the pace, found open shooters, and consistently crashed the boards against a Grizzlies team that’s been decimated by injuries.

Here's the thing: Giddey’s recent surge, which started heating up after the All-Star break, isn’t just about stat-padding against weaker opponents. His assist numbers are up, his decision-making looks sharper, and he’s playing with a confidence that was missing earlier in the season. Before this stretch, he had only three triple-doubles all season. Now he's racked up four in just over a week. That’s a massive leap in production and impact. He’s showing flashes of the versatile playmaker he was projected to be coming out of the draft. Think about it: a 6-foot-8 point guard with elite passing vision and rebounding instincts, playing alongside DeRozan and Vucevic, suddenly gives the Bulls a unique offensive wrinkle they desperately needed.

Real talk, the Grizzlies are in a tough spot. No Ja Morant, no Desmond Bane, no Steven Adams – it’s essentially a G-League roster out there. Losing 132-107 at home, even to a middling Bulls team, stings. Rookie GG Jackson II tried to keep them in it, scoring 21 points, but he simply didn't have enough help. They shot just 40.9% from the field as a team. It's hard to evaluate anything from Memphis right now, other than their incredible bad luck with injuries.

For Chicago, this stretch with Giddey playing at an elite level is huge. He's averaging over 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in his last five outings. If he can sustain even a portion of this output, it fundamentally changes the Bulls' ceiling. They’ve been stuck in purgatory for too long, good enough to avoid being terrible, but never quite good enough to truly compete. Giddey’s development is the key to unlocking something more. My hot take? If Giddey maintains this level of play, he’ll be an All-Star within the next two seasons, regardless of where he plays. He’s got that kind of feel for the game.

The Bulls have a tough schedule coming up, but this win and Giddey’s play give them some momentum. They need to capitalize on it. If Giddey continues to fill up the stat sheet and facilitate the offense, I predict the Bulls, currently hovering around .500, will secure a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.