‘He’s the real thing’: Longley feels Chicago connection as Josh Giddey brings Bulls back to the big time | NBA

Luc Longley chooses his words carefully when talking about Chicago Bulls point guard Josh Giddey, not wanting to expect too much from the young Australian who is still finding his feet in the fierce competition of the NBA.

He says he doesn’t watch every Bulls game these days — only about half of them. That he hasn’t talked to Giddey much since moving to Illinois. Longley’s life in Australia, where he co-owns the Sydney Kings and Flames, occupies most of his energy rather than what’s happening on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Despite all that, Longley says he can’t help but feel a connection to Giddey’s emergence with the Bulls, one of the stories of the NBA season. “It’s a little weird, like deja vu, I guess, to see him in these uniforms, in this arena, doing what he does,” he said.

Longley won three NBA titles with the Bulls in the 1990s alongside Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in one of the most famous sports outfits in the world. Her unlikely story may have been overlooked by the producers of the Netflix documentary The Last Dance, but it was well-told by ABC in 2021.

Giddey’s trade to Chicago last season and his emergence as the leader of an improving Bulls team this campaign have brought back old memories. “It’s a little surreal for me,” Longley says. “Especially with my connection to her old man.”

The red and black jersey isn’t the only thing Giddey and Longley have in common. The towering center has known the young point guard for years, thanks to a stint in the late 1980s in junior representative basketball when he played alongside Warwick Giddey, a man Longley calls “Wazza”.

Giddey senior was the first person to face Australian schoolboys in rugby league and union in the same year. He also played on the basketball side. “I remember when I was a kid on those national teams, and he was just one of those guys you wanted to play with,” Longley says.

The physical former Melbourne Tigers forward became an NBL legend, playing 449 games and winning two championships. Longley sees a lot of the old man in Josh, attributes he thinks will resonate with the “blue collar” Chicagoan he remembers. “He’s tough as nails, he’s not really a chest-thumper, but he lets his actions do the talking.”

It’s been 27 years since Longley left Chicago, the same amount of time the proud basketball city has been waiting to add to its total of six NBA titles. “The lean years have stung the Bulls, stung the fans, because going from the penthouse to the latrine is worse than the other way around,” says the Australian.

But Longley admits he’s not sure, that he has no idea what Giddey is going through, now trying to win matches and win over an eager fan base.

“The truth is, I didn’t play for Chicago when we weren’t winning, so I can’t tell you firsthand what it’s like to be in a non-winning Bulls environment,” he says. “I suspect though that, Chicagoans being Chicagoans, they are quite intolerant of losing, and I think they would be even more intolerant of losing in an apathetic or non-competitive way.”

Longley believes it’s no coincidence that the Bulls are now more competitive, and that newfound advantage is partly due to Giddey’s influence. “We obviously don’t want to compare him to Michael, but the appetite for competition – if that were to be stated [measured statistically] – I think Josh is among the elite.

The legend of Michael Jordan looms over the basketball world, not just Chicago. Just ask LeBron James, whose greatness has always been relative. For the Bulls, there is no recipe for success in 60 years of franchise without No. 23.

Longley says Giddey and Jordan are so different, in terms of background and style of play, that any comparison is a waste of time. Ultimately, the Australian is always working on perfecting his craft and finding ways to succeed.

“The reality is his offensive game has to be strong, he has to shoot the ball and attack,” Longley says. “Or for him to be a facilitator, that’s where Josh’s game has really evolved, which is he hits that three and he attacks the rim so hard that he collapses the defense.”

Giddey’s form this season has been generally solid. He averages a 20-point triple-double and has helped the storied franchise go 8-7, putting them in playoff contention. But there are still question marks, as highlighted by the 36-point loss to the Miami Heat in the NBA Cup when Giddey played alone with 19 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists on Saturday (AEDT).

The Bulls roared from the start this season, then suffered a five-game losing streak, and a viral defensive failure on the perimeter against De’Andre Hunter turned into a twisted ankle that forced Giddey to miss time. On Thursday, the team gave up a 21-point lead against the Blazers and Giddey was on the floor for much of it, on a night where his shooting was below average.

Coach Billy Donovan, however, appears to have faith in the Australian, counting on him to recover the ball and secure the winning possession for the Bulls in the same game. Center Nikola Vučević scored the winning basket, just as he did two weeks ago when Giddey served the Montenegrin. It was another grandstand finish in what is quickly becoming a memorable season in Chicago.

Longley also has confidence in Giddey. “I believe in his talent. I believe in his intensity and I believe his basketball intentions are pure,” Longley said. “I really think he’s the real deal, and I can’t wait to sit in the stands and watch him do it. That would really make the point for me.”