Josh Giddey was surrounded by rumors about his future with the Chicago Bulls for much of the offseason.
But with a little over a month remaining until the start of the 2025-26 regular season, a deal was finally struck. The Bulls re-signed Giddey, a restricted free agent at the time, to a four-year, $100 million contract on Sept. 9, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.
In the meantime, Giddey spent the summer months in his home country of Australia, where he was recently impressed by a touring European squad.
Giddey intrigued by prospect of playing in Europe at some point in basketball career
Panathinaikos, a Greek basketball team that won the 2023-24 EuroLeague, is visiting Australia this month as part of its preseason tour. On one of the team's stops along its journey across the country, Giddey joined its players in a practice session at Courtside Melbourne.
"Here I train every day, and when I heard they were coming, I thought it was a good chance to get into rhythm, as well. They’re a very good team, respected all over Europe," Giddey said on Sept. 16, via Eurohoops. "It was the first time I practiced with a EuroLeague team. They have a game on Thursday and were a bit ‘tired,’ so a few of us jumped in to help them out, run up and down the court, and get them ready for the match."
Panathinaikos' roster features two former NBA players in Kendrick Nunn and Jerian Grant. Giddey said he caught up with both of them during the practice.
"Yes, I spoke with them. They had only good things to say about the team, the city, and Greece in general," Giddey said. "I haven’t heard a single negative word, only positives. It was fun to be with them today."
He later admitted that he would be open to making a move to Europe in the future.
"I don’t know... maybe someday. You never say never," Giddey said. "Like I said, I talked with the guys — they love Greece and the team, they speak so highly of it. I haven’t heard anything but positive things. So, maybe at some point in the future."
It may be a while before a move abroad is realized, especially since Giddey's current contract will keep him in the Windy City through end of the 2028-29 campaign, his age-26 season. But his most recent comments indicate that he certainly hasn't shut down the possibility of doing so sometime down the line.