Michael Jordan seems to be making a comeback this season in more ways than one. NBC is riding high on viewership, rolling out a chopped-up sitdown with Jordan every few days, keeping fans glued to the screen. Meanwhile, the Bulls are channeling a revival of MJ’s glory days, kicking off the 2025-26 season with a perfect 4-0 record—eerily reminiscent of his legendary 1996-97 run. But there’s another story stealing headlines: rising star Josh Giddey.

Already being linked to Jordan for the second time this season, he is turning heads and giving fans a glimpse of the next chapter in Chicago basketball. Josh Giddey is making history for the Chicago Bulls. Hoop Central reported on X, “Josh Giddey is the 1st Bulls player to record back-to-back triple-doubles since Michael Jordan, per @chicagobulls.” This marks the first time since 1989 that a Bulls player has achieved the feat.

Giddey delivered a monster performance with 29 points, 15 rebounds, and 12 assists, driving to the basket before finding Nikola Vucevic for the corner 3 on the game’s decisive possession.

The Bulls staged an incredible comeback against the Philadelphia 76ers, overturning a 24-point deficit to win 113-111. Vucevic added 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Isaac Okoro contributed 16.

Chicago’s defense clamped down in the fourth, holding Philadelphia to just 16 points and setting the stage for Giddey’s heroics.

Philadelphia had stormed out of the gate, scoring 45 points in the first quarter to grab an early lead, powered by Tyrese Maxey’s 12 points on 4-of-6 three-point shooting.

Maxey finished with 39 points, Joel Embiid scored 20, and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 18, but the Bulls’ relentless second-half rally ensured they pulled off one of the season’s most thrilling wins, improving to 6-1 while the Sixers fell to 5-2.

During the 1988-89 season, Michael Jordan put on one of the most remarkable stretches of his career, notching seven consecutive triple-doubles. Over that run, he averaged an astonishing 33 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 11.4 assists per game.

The streak came after head coach Doug Collins shifted Jordan to point guard late in the season, giving him greater control of the offense and more opportunities to handle the ball.

And fans couldn’t stop comparing him to the GOAT himself, Michael Jordan.

Fans crown Giddey the next big thing in Chicago

One excited fan shared, “Giddey said… I’m Him,” paired with a classic Michael Jordan GIF. In just his second season with the Bulls after moving from Oklahoma City, Giddey has already climbed to third on the franchise’s all-time triple-double list with nine to his name.

Only Michael Jordan (28) and Scottie Pippen (15) sit above him. The Bulls looked poised for a second straight loss, but Giddey’s electrifying performance turned the tide, helping Chicago soar to a 6-1 record—the best in the Eastern Conference.

Another fan couldn’t resist weighing in, writing, “Okc messed up he is better than Shai 😭😭”. The chatter isn’t surprising. After months of tense negotiations and a summer stalemate, Josh Giddey finally inked a four-year, $100 million deal to stay in Chicago through the 2028-29 season.

Giddey arrived in Chicago after his role with the Oklahoma City Thunder began to diminish in the 2023-24 season. Despite all the speculation about contracts and what could have been, he stayed confident, telling reporters, “This is where I wanted to be.”

Now, any doubts about his worth are quickly disappearing, though whether he’s truly better than Shai remains up for debate.

Another fan summed it up perfectly, writing, “Where are those non-believers now? He has practically shut them up. #Bulls.” And he really has. When the Bulls kicked off their season with a flawless 4-0 run, Josh Giddey’s name was the one echoing across Chicago.

Fans began making a strong case for his first All-Star nod, and his performances have backed it up, posting stat lines of 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists; 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists; 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists; and 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 11 assists. It’s the kind of all-around brilliance that’s silencing critics. 

Another fan couldn’t hold back their excitement, writing, “He’s a F— All Star! Can’t wait until Coby comes back. Those assists will be higher.” It’s a fair point. Coby White’s absence has been felt early in the 2025-26 season.

The Bulls announced that White would miss at least two weeks with a calf strain, though there’s optimism he could return later this month.

Coming off the best year of his career, averaging 20.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists in 74 games, White’s return is eagerly awaited. Even Josh Giddey acknowledged his importance, saying, “Coby is such an important piece to what we do.”

Another fan added to the excitement, writing, “Close enough, welcome back my GOAT 🐐.” Although the comment came with a touch of hesitation, it showed just how high Josh Giddey has risen in the eyes of Bulls fans.

The 22-year-old put up 23 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists in a tough loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Still, he’ll need five more such trips to catch Michael Jordan’s mark, so yes, there’s work left to do, but Giddey clearly looks on track.

Last season, he appeared in 70 regular-season games, averaging 14.6 points while posting career highs of 8.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game, shooting 46.5% from the floor and a career-best 37.8% from deep.