Josh Giddey was on pace for a big year, flirting with a triple-double average that would put him in elite company. But for the Chicago Bulls, 9th in the Eastern Conference, their campaign just hit a significant roadblock.

Shams Charania of ESPN reported that a left hamstring strain will sideline the Bulls guard for at least a few weeks. Giddey sustained an injury in yesterday’s 136-101 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves. He left the game after playing just 18 minutes and didn’t return. Now we know why.

Currently, Josh Giddey is averaging a career-high 19.2 points, 9.0 assists, and 8.9 rebounds in 32.8 minutes per game, with 47% shooting from the field and 39% from three. The point guard is serving as a menace to rivals. His injury happened early in the third quarter. After making a pass to Nikola Vucevic, Giddey immediately grabbed his left hamstring. Losing him is truly unfortunate, as the Aussie was building an All-Star campaign this season.

But for now, rehab and rest are everything that he needs to recover.

How could Josh Giddey’s recovery timeline look?

Hamstring strains in the NBA are a delicate dance between recovery and urgency. Recovery time varies by injury grade, typically ranging from 1-2 weeks for mild cases to several weeks or more for severe ones.

Grade 1 strains let players bounce back in 7-10 days. Grade 2 injuries demand 3-4 weeks of structured rehab. Meanwhile, Grade 3 tears, sometimes needing surgery, can bench stars for half a year or more. Conditioning and fitness history primarily shape the rehab timeline.

Moreover, rehab requires patience. NBA players often follow structured rehab protocols to minimize the risk of re-injury during high-intensity play. Initial RICE treatment: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, sparks healing. Then, stretching, strengthening, and agility drills are used to prevent any recurrence.

Top Stories

Marina Mabrey Is Raising Eyebrows Again With Fiery Unrivaled Confrontation

Kyrie Irving Breaks Silence After Injury Return Update Emerges

Is Anthony Davis Playing Tonight? Mavericks vs Kings Latest Injury Report (Jan 6)

Unrivaled Commissioner Makes His Opinion on Paige Bueckers Very Clear

Napheesa Collier Gives WNBA Fans Good Reason To Be Excited About Delayed CBA Conversations

So for now, Josh Giddey will catch a breather before coming back to the floor. We don’t yet know the extent of the injury or the official timeline. It could be a week or maybe even four.

Until then, the Bulls need to hold down the fort. But for a team already dealing with the absences of Zach Collins (toe) and Coby White (calf), it isn’t getting any easier. They also have a jam-packed schedule with seven games from December 31 to January 10.

Ayo Dosunmu and Tre Jones should see more action while Giddey and White recover.