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- Josh Giddey signs four-year, USD$100 million deal with the Chicago Bulls.
- Contract makes Giddey Australia’s highest-paid athlete, surpassing Ben Simmons’ earnings.
- Salary ranges from USD$22.3-27.6 million annually, rising until unrestricted free agency.
- By contract’s conclusion, career earnings will reach USD$127 million (AUD$193.2m).
- Bulls secure future star while avoiding luxury tax with flexible roster strategy.
The same week that the agent of Australia’s former top-paid player, Ben Simmons, severed his ties with the former NBA superstar after retirement bells sounded, Josh Giddey’s agent, Daniel Moldovan of Lighthouse Sports Management, told ESPN the Chicago Bulls have locked in Josh Giddey on a four-year deal worth USD$100 million (approx. AUD$151.88 million).
With Ben Simmons’ five-year USD$177,243,360 deal coming to a close, Josh Giddey can officially call himself Australia’s richest athlete. His per-season salary will range from USD$22.3-27.6 million per season throughout the duration of the four-year contract, increasing every year until the end of the 2029 season, when he becomes an unrestricted free agent at age 26.
Giddey’s career earnings currently stand at USD$27.2 million, after he signed a rookie extension (4 yr(s) / $27,214,807) with the Oklahoma City Thunder before promptly being dealt to his current team, the Chicago Bulls. However, that’s set to increase handsomely, and his career earnings will reach USD$127,214,807 (approx. AUD$193.2 million) at the end of his new contract.
“Deserved my guy!!” said former teammate Zach LaVine on the announcement social media post made by Josh Giddey to say he’d locked in his contract after lengthy negotiations.
Giddey and his agent reportedly sought a near-max contract worth $45 million per season, but the Bulls played hardball. The team had learnt from their previous mistakes in signing LaVine to a 5-year, USD$215 million contract (who no longer plays for the team), and Patrick Williams to a 5-year, $90 million contract, which is an exorbitant amount to pay a player who averaged 9 points in 25 minutes per game last season.
Signing Giddey to a max contract would have pushed Chicago closer to the tax, which they’ve paid once in franchise history. With Giddey signing a smaller deal, the Bulls have the flexibility to succeed and rebuild their roster in an ever-changing NBA.
NBA Slam Dunk Contestant and 7th-place finisher in ROTY voting last season, Matas Buzelis, commented “Ouuuuu weeee” on the social media post made by Giddey. These two young prospects will be the focus for the Bulls moving forward, and now that they’ve locked in one of their future stars, the focus turns to nurturing the Buzelis’ lengthy, athletic game.
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