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Josh Giddey of the Chicago Bulls hasn’t played in 2026 due to a hamstring injury.
The Chicago Bulls shared some positive news about the injured Josh Giddey ahead of their game against the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday. Giddey hasn’t suited up for the Bulls in 2026 because of a hamstring injury.
According to the Bulls’ injury report, Giddey has been upgraded from out to doubtful for the Nets game. It’s the first time in more than two weeks that the franchise has made a change in their star guard’s status.
While Giddey is likely getting downgraded to out before tip-off, the doubtful status is a huge sign that he could be returning as soon as possible. He has made progress in his recovery, with the Bulls probably ramping up his workouts even more.
Bulls insider K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network reported that fans should expect to see Giddey back on the court later this week. Johnson also cautioned that setbacks are possible, which could delay the Aussie’s return.
Billy Donovan Feeling Positive About Giddey’s Recovery
Speaking to reporters last Friday before their game against the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan felt positive about Josh Giddey’s recovery. The guard could be set to practice with the G League team soon, with no setbacks in sight during his latest workouts.
“There is some hope, maybe on Sunday, that (Josh) can get into practice with those (G-League) guys and get at least some playing. So far, with the ramp-up that’s started, there’s been no setbacks. I think he feels pretty good. But I’d like to see him get into one of those practices and see where he’s at. But he’s certainly progressing in a good way, and I feel good where he’s at,” Donovan said, via Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.
Giddey suffered the injury early in the second half of the Bulls’ 136-101 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 29. He was being pressed near half court when he suddenly passed the ball and began touching his right hamstring. He was subbed out soon and was ruled out of the game.
The Bulls diagnosed him with a strained right hamstring, and he was ruled out for a few weeks, as per ESPN. He’s currently in his third week of recovery, so the timeline fits.
How did Giddey earn his ‘All-Star’ form?
Before his hamstring injury, Josh Giddey was one of the candidates to be selected for his first All-Star Game. Giddey still has a chance, especially if he plays well upon his return later this week.
But what was Giddey’s secret to turning from a “failed” project with the Oklahoma City Thunder to a borderline All-Star in Chicago? It was all about dedicating his time in the offseason to improve his game in Australia, specifically inside Courtside Melbourne, a facility he and Dyson Daniels invested in, according to Code Sports.
“I was lucky. Courtside is the perfect setup because it has everything I need there. When I got back to Australia after the NBA season, I got together with my team and mapped out a plan, and we stuck to it the best we could. It was six days a week, Monday to Saturday, and Sundays were off. I had days that were really long, but I love it,” Giddey said.
The 23-year-old guard credited his team for helping him along the way. He brought in people like strength coach Nik Popovic, skills trainer Jordan Lawley and multiple Australian players in the NCAA and the NBA.
Juan Paolo David Juan Paolo David is a sports journalist covering basketball for Heavy. He has a decade of experience writing about the NBA and WWE. He’s currently based in the Philippines. More about Juan Paolo David
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