Aussies Abroad: Giddey makes history with assist record

20 Mar 2026

boomers

Josh Giddey sets a new Australian NBA assist record, but Chicago’s playoff push continues to stall.

AAP.

Josh Giddey continues to break NBA records but he can't seem to buy enough wins at the moment to get Chicago into the playoffs.

The 23-year-old Australian guard, who has six triple-doubles and 24 double-doubles for the Bulls this season, set a new personal benchmark for assists against Cleveland on Thursday (Friday AEDT).

Giddey tallied nine points, six rebounds, 19 assists, one steal and two blocked shots, but the Cavaliers hung on to win 115-110 after a 29-point lead in the third quarter dwindled to one in the closing minutes.

The 19 assists is the most by an Australian in the NBA, overtaking fellow Melburnian Ben Simmons' previous high of 17, and the most by a Chicago player since Ennis Whatley in February, 1985.

Giddey has played 47 games in a productive, yet injury-disrupted, season and is averaging 17.7 points, 8.8 assists and 8.4 rebounds per game, but the Bulls (28-41) are 12th in the Eastern Conference standings, having lost six of their past 10.