Josh Giddey Reacts to NBA Champion Chet Holmgren's Recent Post

The Oklahoma City Thunder traded Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls during the 2024 NBA offseason to acquire defensive star Alex Caruso. This decision stemmed from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's emergence as an MVP-caliber player requiring primary ball-handling duties, which limited Giddey's fit on the roster.

Despite his departure, Giddey maintains close relationships with former Thunder teammates. He recently commented with a cheese emoji (🧀) on an Instagram post by Thunder forward Chet Holmgren showcasing offseason workouts. Giddey (2021 draft, 7th pick) and Holmgren (2022 draft, 2nd pick) were teammates for two seasons before the trade.

Giddey's tenure with the Thunder began amid significant draft-night criticism about his basketball weaknesses. He proved doubters wrong by earning All-Rookie Second Team honors in his first season and making substantial improvements in his second year, averaging 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists. However, his role diminished during the 2023-24 season as Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Holmgren took larger offensive responsibilities, leading to reduced minutes despite starting all 80 games he played.

Publicly, Giddey holds no resentment toward his former team. He explicitly stated that if the Bulls don't win the championship, he hopes the Thunder do, citing his close relationships with players. The trade likely benefits Giddey's career, as Chicago offers him greater opportunity as a primary ball-handler and creator.