Josh Giddey, Bulls’ NBA star, says local league game a ‘one-off’

Chicago Bulls point guard Josh Giddey has opened up on his headline-grabbing turn as a fill-in on a mate’s Monday night domestic team, and made a call on if there will be a second game.

NBA superstar Josh Giddey has opened up on his headline-grabbing turn as a fill-in on a mate’s Monday night domestic team.

Vision of the Chicago Bulls point guard hitting the back courts of Frankston Basketball Stadium in Melbourne’s south east went viral this week as he stepped in to help out the Vales Monday night team.

Giddey, who has played on stages as big as the Olympics and World Cup and plies his NBA trade at Chicago’s famed United Center, said when one of his mates asked him to play, he took the chance to “remember what it felt like to be a normal human”.

Josh Giddey watches during the Trans-Tasman Throwdown match between the Australia Boomers and the New Zealand Tall Blacks. Picture: Getty Images

“I used to play in those Monday night, those weeknight comps, all the time, so one of my boys, they needed a fill in so I went down there to Frankston,” Giddey said during Nine’s broadcast of the Boomers v New Zealand Trans Tasman clash in Adelaide.

“When I was prob 13-14, I played in my dad’s (Melbourne Tigers legend Warrick Giddey) team with all the ex-NBL guys at MSAC, so (I) used to love those weeknight comps.

“I used to look forward to it all week at school so to go back and do all that again, play in a Monday night game in Frankston at 9 o’clock, great feeling.”

Josh Giddey hit an unforgettable long-range three to seal a famous CHicago Bulls win over LeBron James’s Lakers in March. Picture: Getty Images

Asked if we might see him suit up in a domestic game again any time soon, Giddey, who had 20 points and 4 three-pointers against Benny’s Boys, said it was definitely a one-off.

“I’ve had a few requests, that was a one-off, that’s not happening again,” he said.

“I probably shouldn’t have played in that game but it was a lot of fun.”

Giddey’s shock apperance wasn’t enough to secure victory, though.

Local basketball trainer Blake Jackson, 22, put up 50 points and Frankston Youth League teammate Jesse Lans dropped 41, combining for 21 three pointers and 91 points for Benny’s Boys in a 110-84 win over ‘Fill In’ Giddey and The Vales.

Giddey, who is a restricted free agent this summer, is set for a big payday after an impressive stretch to close out the regular season — and Richard Jefferson had a clear message for the Bulls after their play-in loss to Miami.

“Pay that man his money,” he said in commentary of Giddey, who scored 25 points to go with 10 rebounds, four assists and three turnovers.

Originally published as Josh Giddey, Bulls’ NBA star, says local league game a ‘one-off’