Blink during a Chicago fast break and you might mistake the United Center for Showtime. Since arriving in 2024, Josh Giddey has reshaped the Bulls’ tempo and identity so much so that the franchise moved quickly to lock him into a four-year, $100 million extension last month.
Now, as the 2025–26 campaign kicks into gear, one of his closest teammates, Matas Buzelis, has put a bold stamp on Giddey’s rising profile.
Who Has Josh Giddey Been Compared To?
In a recent exclusive interview with “RG,” second-year Chicago forward Buzelis was pressed to connect Giddey to a point guard from any era. After thinking it through, Buzelis landed on Hall of Famer and five-time champion Magic Johnson.
“Josh’s IQ is off the charts. He’s amazingly skillful at his height. I can’t compare him to any player. Josh is a 6-foot-8 point guard. You don’t ever see that back in the day.”
“Honestly to have him as a teammate is really special. He’s an amazing player he works extremely hard, he finds everyone. He includes everyone into the game. Honestly, to compare him to somebody I guess in the past, Magic Johnson,” said Buzelis during the interview (as per RG).
Buzelis didn’t stop at the comp. He raved about Giddey’s day-to-day commitment and the creativity he funnels into Chicago’s sets.
“He’s an amazing guy. Honestly, he’s so skillful, he works so hard. That’s always something you can respect — when a guy works on his craft every day. Even if it might not show up on the stat book, he’s going to make plays that impact the game,” added Buzelis during the interview.
That praise was recently backed up by the Bulls’ official social media team, which posted a behind-the-scenes video on YouTube from training camp. The clip showed Giddey and Buzelis mic’d up during an intense practice session in which they showcased their communication, energy, and competitiveness.
On the floor, Giddey has embodied the big-guard, high-IQ playmaking that inspired the Magic parallel. Last season across 70 appearances, he averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and a team-best 7.2 assists in 30.2 minutes per game.
The improved efficiency of 46.5% inside the arc and a clean 37.8% from deep has only sharpened his decision-making and has helped him trigger actions without forcing shots.
A perfect example of his all-around brilliance came on December 28 in 2024 matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks, when Giddey posted a spectacular triple-double with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists. In short, in that game, he controlled the pace and helped the Bulls win 116-111.
All of this feeds a broader Bulls objective that is to mount a real playoff comeback.
If we see the early signs are promising. Chicago took three of five in the 2025 preseason, then opened the regular slate 2–0. If that momentum holds, the path to a deep postseason run is right there, especially with Giddey’s command setting the table and Buzelis’ length and feel raising the group’s ceiling on both ends.
