Josh Giddey Contract: $100M Bulls Extension Details

Few 22-year-olds know what it’s like to be traded away from a contender, then sign a $100 million contract with your new team a year later. Josh Giddey just lived that.

Contract Value: $100 million over 4 years ·
Annual Average: $25 million ·
Team: Chicago Bulls ·
Date Agreed: September 9, 2025

The table below summarizes Giddey’s new deal at a glance.

Why did OKC get rid of Giddey?

The Oklahoma City Thunder traded Josh Giddey to the Chicago Bulls in June 2024 in exchange for defensive ace Alex Caruso, as reported by ESPN (sports news leader). The move was a roster construction decision: the Thunder had too many playmakers and needed shooting around star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

The Thunder’s roster construction

Oklahoma City had already drafted 7-foot shooter Chet Holmgren and surrounded him with wings who could space the floor. Giddey, a 6’8″ point guard who thrives with the ball in his hands, became redundant. His 30.5% three-point shooting in his first two seasons made him a poor fit for a system that prioritizes spacing.

Giddey’s fit in Oklahoma City

• Giddey’s playmaking was valuable, but the Thunder already had Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (29.7 PPG, 6.3 APG in 2024-25) as the primary ball-handler.
• Defensively, Giddey’s lack of lateral quickness made him a target, especially in playoff situations.

The trade-off: Oklahoma City swapped a young playmaker for a proven perimeter defender who helped them reach the 2025 Western Conference Finals.

The trade with Chicago

The Bulls, desperate for a point guard of the future, sent Caruso to OKC straight up. Chicago then bet on Giddey’s development. ESPN (sports news leader) reported that the trade was finalized on June 29, 2024, giving Giddey a fresh start.

The implication: OKC chose shooting and defense over playmaking depth. For Giddey, the trade unlocked an opportunity to become Chicago’s franchise point guard.

Is Josh Giddey a millionaire?

Yes. With the $100 million extension, Giddey joins the NBA’s growing club of millionaires. His net worth is estimated at over $30 million, factoring in his rookie contract of roughly $20 million and endorsement income.

Josh Giddey’s net worth

According to Basketball.com.au (Australian basketball outlet), Giddey’s earnings have surged since being drafted sixth overall in 2021. His rookie scale contract paid him about $4.5 million per season, and he has endorsement deals with sports brands and Australian companies.

Breakdown of his NBA earnings

Here’s how Giddey’s career earnings break down by source.

Endorsements and investments

Giddey has partnerships with Australian brands and global sports apparel companies. While specific figures aren’t public, his profile as a top Australian NBA player gives him significant off-court earning potential.

What this means: Giddey is not just a millionaire — he’s positioned for generational wealth well beyond his playing career.

Who got the first $100 million contract in the NBA?

Juwan Howard signed a 7-year, $105 million deal with the Washington Bullets in 1996 — the NBA’s first $100 million contract. According to Wikipedia (historical sports data), Howard was 23 at the time, setting a precedent that reshaped free agency.

The pioneers of NBA mega-deals

Before Howard, the biggest NBA contracts were in the $30–40 million range. Howard’s deal represented a seismic shift, and it took years for the salary cap to catch up. Today, $100 million contracts are routine — over 30 current NBA players have deals worth $100M or more.

Impact on subsequent contracts

Howard’s contract opened the door for stars like Kevin Garnett (6yr/$126M in 1997) and Shaquille O’Neal (7yr/$120M in 1996). The $100M threshold became a benchmark for All-Stars, and by the 2020s, it was the average value of a max contract for a non-superstar.

The pattern: Each new financial milestone (first $100M, first $200M, first $300M) follows a predictable arc — it starts with a singular player, then becomes the new normal within a decade.

Who was the first 300 million dollar NBA contract?

Jaylen Brown signed a 5-year, $304 million supermax extension with the Boston Celtics in 2023, as reported by Wikipedia (historical sports data) and ESPN (sports news leader). It was the first contract in NBA history to exceed $300 million in total value.

Supermax contracts

The supermax provision, added in the 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement, allows teams to offer players with specific accolades (All-NBA, MVP, Defensive Player of the Year) up to 35% of the salary cap. Brown’s deal averaged $60.8 million per year.

The $300M milestone

Only three players have signed contracts worth over $300 million: Jaylen Brown ($304M), Nikola Jokic (5yr/$276M — just under $300M), and Giannis Antetokounmpo (5yr/$228M extension). Giddey’s $100M, by comparison, feels modest.

The catch: Salary cap growth drives these numbers. In 1996, the cap was $24.3 million; for the 2025-26 season, it’s projected at $154 million. Giddey’s $25M annual salary is about 16% of the cap — similar to Howard’s 1996 deal (which was 29% of the cap).

Who in the NBA has a $200 million dollar contract?

At least 10 active players have signed contracts worth $200 million or more. According to Spotrac (salary cap data provider), the list includes:

• Nikola Jokic — 5yr/$270M (Denver Nuggets)
• Joel Embiid — 4yr/$213M (Philadelphia 76ers)
• Stephen Curry — 4yr/$215M (Golden State Warriors)
• Giannis Antetokounmpo — 5yr/$228M (Milwaukee Bucks)
• Devin Booker — 4yr/$221M (Phoenix Suns)
• Bradley Beal — 5yr/$251M (Phoenix Suns)
• Anthony Davis — 5yr/$225M (Los Angeles Lakers)
• Damian Lillard — 4yr/$215M (Portland Trail Blazers)
• Rudy Gobert — 5yr/$205M (Minnesota Timberwolves)
• Trae Young — 5yr/$207M (Atlanta Hawks)

Giddey’s $100M is half of what the top earners make. But for a player who was traded and then extended after one season, it’s a statement of faith from the Bulls’ front office.

Why this matters: The $200M threshold used to be reserved for MVP-level talents. Now it’s the standard for All-NBA players, while $100M has become the floor for solid starters.

Comparison table: Giddey’s contract vs. historical milestones

Five contracts across three decades reveal one pattern: the salary floor keeps rising.

The trade-off: Giddey’s $25M annual salary is a bargain relative to the cap — but it’s life-changing money for a 22-year-old who was a restricted free agent just a week ago.

“Josh Giddey agreed to a 4-year, $100 million fully guaranteed contract extension with the Chicago Bulls, his agent Daniel Moldovan of Lighthouse Sports Management told ESPN.”

— Shams Charania, ESPN (source)

“The extension is considered under-market in the current NBA landscape, averaging $25M per season.”

— Keith Smith, contract analyst, via Basketball.com.au

Josh Giddey’s $100 million contract with the Chicago Bulls is more than a personal win — it’s a data point in the NBA’s relentless salary curve. From Juwan Howard’s 1996 landmark to Jaylen Brown’s $304M supermax, each generation resets the floor. For the Bulls, the question is whether Giddey becomes a back-end All-Star worth $25M a year, or a fringe starter paid as a star. Giddey must now prove that the trade from OKC was a blessing in disguise.

Related reading: Josh Giddey agrees to 4-year, $100M extension with Bulls · Josh Giddey Chicago Bulls contract extension All-Star start 2025-26

For a broader understanding of how NBA contracts like Giddey’s are paid out, the NBAs salary payment schedule explains the league’s payment schedule.

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