‘I’m ready to get off the big screen’: Giddey grapples with prime Boomers role and new start with Bulls
By Roy Ward
Australian NBA star Josh Giddey will be the face of the Boomers at Paris 2024 and beyond, but he admits he would like to reduce his time in the spotlight after a torrid NBA season.
The 21-year-old has returned from a whirlwind visit to his new club Chicago Bulls after he was traded this week.
Australian Boomers player Josh Giddey (middle) attends an in-store appearance at Foot Locker QV on Friday with Josh Green (left) and Dyson Daniels (right).Credit: Getty Images
After enduring a trying NBA season, an appearance in Melbourne to celebrate the Boomers’ new partnership with Foot Locker on Friday showed where his head was at as he prepares for his Olympic debut and a new start with the Bulls.
During a meeting with media and select fans at a Foot Locker’s QV store, Giddey was reminded of his childhood hijinks at Melbourne United games when his dad, NBL great Warrick, was working with the club.
MC Nathan Strempel asked Giddey, who used to wear the United jersey of now Boomers teammate Chris Goulding, to recall the times he requested to get on the big screen at Melbourne Park, and if he thought he got enough big-screen time now that he’s an NBA star.
“I’m ready to get off the big screen – at least a little bit,” Giddey told the room.
Australian Boomers star Josh Giddey speaks on Friday. Credit: Getty Images
Fans at Friday’s event clearly had Giddey as their favourite, although the likes of Josh Green, who went to the NBA finals with the Mavericks, and young Victorian guard Dyson Daniels had their fans as well.
Patty Mills will still be the team’s best-known player, but Boomers coach Brian Goorjian has made it clear that Giddey will be the prime playmaker and ball-handler.
What should have been a special year for Giddey went the wrong way late last year when images circulated of a shirtless Giddey standing behind a woman, with claims that she was underage. The post was deleted and the social media account which published it was deactivated.
The Newport Beach Police Department in California announced on January 18 that it would not pursue charges after the department was “unable to corroborate any criminal activity related to Mr Giddey”.
The NBA conducted its own investigation and came to the same result, ESPN reported in May.
Giddey, who has yet to speak publicly about the incident, faced torrid abuse while playing with Oklahoma City Thunder, who emerged as a title contender.
On the court, Giddey’s inconsistent three-point shooting was also put in the spotlight as teams backed off him to cover his other star teammates.
Giddey’s shooting did improve, but his confidence appeared to take a hit and late in the play-offs, with his team facing elimination, he was replaced in the starting line-up as the Thunder went down to the Dallas Mavericks in the western conference semi-finals.
Australian Boomers player (back row) Josh Green, Xavier Cooks, Duop Reath, Will Magnay, Nick Kay, Matisse Thybulle, (front row) Chris Goulding, Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels pose at an in-store appearance at Foot Locker QV on Friday.Credit: Getty Images
The media portion of the event on Friday featured the MC asking questions of the players, rather than an open media conference, and Giddey said he looked forward to Paris after the team’s disappointing exit at the FIBA World Cup last year.
The Boomers had their first training session on Friday ahead of farewell games against China next Tuesday and Thursday at John Cain Arena.
Goorjian still has to narrow down his final roster for Paris and faces some painful cuts with veterans like Matthew Dellavedova pressing for a recall after being left out of the world cup.
“We know we have the sour taste of the world cup still left in our mouths and to finish the way we did wasn’t good for anyone,” Giddey said.
“So we’re very happy to be able to go to Paris now with another chance to get on that podium and win a gold medal.
“The talent is as good as it has ever been in Australian basketball and we are excited to get to Paris.”
The chances of following the bronze medal in Tokyo looks tough with LeBron James and a team of superstars playing for the US, Nikola Jokic playing for Serbia, and a host of other NBA guns suiting up.
Giddey spoke about Chicago, where he will likely be part of a rebuild as the Bulls look to move out older stars and attempt to build around Giddey’s playmaking.
The Bulls won six championships during Michael Jordan’s legendary career, three with Australian Luc Longley, and they threatened to win another title during the prime of Derrick Rose’s career before injuries brought him down.
“I think it was good for both sides [the Thunder and himself] to have a fresh start,” Giddey said.
On the Bulls, he said: “The whole organisation, the coaches, the front office and the players were awesome. I was only there for 48 hours but got a good feel for the city. I know how far back the history goes, and I’ll look forward to getting back there in September.”
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