Josh Giddey has averaged more than 3.0 free throw attempts per game just once in his career, last season with the Chicago Bulls, when he attempted 3.2 per contest. During his three years with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he never averaged even one trip to the line per game, with a career-high of 1.9 attempts in 2022-23.
While notoriously never a knockdown—or even threatening—shooter from beyond the arc, Giddey’s role in the Oklahoma City offense was under scrutiny. If he couldn’t hit threes, score from mid-range, or pressure defenses as a driver… what could he do?
Josh Giddey's offensive game was far too predictable
The Thunder didn’t seem willing to show any more patience in answering those questions as the stakes rose following a sudden ascent to the NBA’s elite. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander initiating the offense and Jalen Williams as a secondary creator, Oklahoma City didn’t necessarily need Giddey. That set the stage for the Alex Caruso-for-Giddey trade.
Upon arriving in the Windy City, Giddey’s scoring concerns persisted. For the first half of the season, he looked much the same in Chicago, until the Bulls traded primary option Zach LaVine, opening a larger role for the Aussie floor general.
With LaVine out of the picture, Giddey began driving more—and not just to pass, but to score. Before the All-Star break, the 23-year-old averaged 8.9 drives per game, generating 3.6 points and 4.6 passes on those drives. After the break, he increased to 16.0 drives per game, producing 8.5 points and 7.3 passes while boosting his driving field goal percentage by nearly four points.
Giddey becoming a threatening attacker has paid dividends
Giddey’s newfound attacking playstyle also led to more trips to the free-throw line. After the All-Star break, he averaged 2.6 free throws per game just from drives. Overall, his free-throw rate nearly tripled, rising from 2.2 attempts per game before the break to 5.8 after.
The former sixth-overall pick’s drives suddenly carried real weight. No longer just a distributor, Giddey had evolved into a genuine scoring threat, forcing defenders to scramble and opening the door to a surge in free throw attempts
Carrying over last season’s post-All-Star surge was Giddey’s second-biggest offseason storyline. Bulls fans could probably recite his post-break numbers in their sleep—the stats had been mentioned that often. Yet the same questions the Thunder once had about Giddey lingered. Was he really the 21.2-point, 10.7-rebound, 9.3-assist per game player, or was he still what he’d always been: a phenomenal passer and rebounder who hadn’t found his scoring niche?
Right away, that question was answered. Giddey totaled 19 points, five rebounds, and 11 assists in his debut, but more importantly, he shot 11 free throws, making eight of them. He recorded 14 drives against Detroit, which, to be honest, feels a bit light. NBA.com credited the 6-foot-8 guard with just two free throw attempts from his 16 drives.
Still, regardless of his counting stats, Giddey’s attacking playstyle was clear. He’s not the fastest player, but he’s found an advantage most defenders don’t have, and he puts it to use: his height. Giddey doesn’t always need to get all the way to the rim, which suits his game perfectly. He’s developed a nifty floater for when a spin move fails or he runs out of real estate. That move, combined with finally leveraging his size, has translated into numerous trips to the free-throw line.
Giddey might not be the type of player to attempt 20 shots per game, which will always limit his ceiling as a scorer, but if he gets up 10 to 15 shots per night and draws multiple fouls, resulting in four to eight free throw attempts, there’s no question he could average 21.2 points per game over a full season.
Getting to the line five times in the Bulls’ opener is arguably more impressive than recording a double-double. Eleven free throw attempts not only highlight Giddey’s growth as a complete offensive player—it even ties a career high, for crying out loud. With his ability to drive and create not just for others, but for himself, Giddey looks primed to carry Chicago’s offense.
