Josh Giddey is making the NBA world stop, stare, and take notice. The 23-year-old Australian phenom has skyrocketed from promising young guard to one of the league’s hottest topics, and the MVP betting markets don’t lie. Currently sitting ninth at Sportsbet, ahead of established stars like Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson, and even Steph Curry, Giddey’s early-season surge is turning heads on both sides of the Pacific. And on FanDuel, he’s tied with those same household names, cementing his status as one of the game’s emerging forces.
Sure, betting on Giddey to take home MVP may seem like a gamble given the competition—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, and Giannis Antetokounmpo remain towering obstacles—but the very fact he’s even in the conversation is astonishing. Analysts are already tipping him as the front-runner for Most Improved Player, with back-to-back triple-doubles putting him in rarefied company—the first Chicago player to do so since Michael Jordan.
The Bulls, powered by Giddey’s brilliance, have stormed to a 6-1 start, leapfrogging Eastern Conference favorites New York and Cleveland. And the hype isn’t just local. Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas went on his show insisting he’d choose Giddey over $315 million Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball for building a new team. “The reason you give me Giddey is I don’t have to be a smart general manager,” Arenas said. “He knows how to play with anyone. He meshes. He gets it.”
Critics remain skeptical. Chandler Parsons reminded fans that while Giddey is an elite point guard, LaMelo Ball still holds the higher ceiling in talent. But Parsons conceded, “Josh Giddey is the better point guard right now,” highlighting the Australian’s immediate impact over long-term potential.
Giddey’s rise hasn’t been without scrutiny. Questions about his shooting and defense from Oklahoma City lingered, but early Bulls performances suggest those concerns are no longer glaring. Stacey King, Bulls legend and analyst, boldly claims Giddey “has a chance to be arguably the best point guard in the league,” praising his improved defense, near-45% three-point shooting, rebounding prowess, and court vision.
Numbers back it up. Giddey is averaging career highs of 23.1 points, 10 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game, ranking fifth in the league in assists. Analysts like Tim Cato emphasize Giddey’s methodical approach to breaking defenses and his All-Star level physicality. Adam Mares adds that Giddey’s connection with teammates is the cornerstone of Chicago’s success: “Josh Giddey makes you want to play a certain way offensively because you’re going to be rewarded. He makes his team better.”
In short, the debate over Giddey versus LaMelo, the $315 million question, and the MVP chatter isn’t just noise—it’s proof that a new superstar is emerging in real time. The Bulls’ early-season brilliance has a name: Josh Giddey. And America is talking. Loudly.
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