Josh Giddey is fed up with being seen as the weak link on defense.

For four seasons in the NBA, that’s been his reputation. People don’t talk about his flashy no-look passes or his jaw-dropping full-court assists as much as they do about his struggles on defense. Despite his offensive skills, the Chicago Bulls guard has been labeled as a defensive liability — and he’s determined to change that narrative.

Since coming back from an ankle sprain on Saturday, Giddey has started showing signs of improvement on the defensive end. He’s hoping this effort sparks a major transformation in the new year. “I’m just trying to take more pride in my defense,” Giddey said. “I want to commit to it.”

During his first three years with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Giddey’s defensive shortcomings didn’t stand out as much because he was surrounded by one of the league’s top defensive teams. However, this season in Chicago has been a wake-up call. The Bulls rank 24th in the league in defense (with a 115.5 defensive rating as of Wednesday), and while role players like Ayo Dosunmu bring versatility on defense, the team’s top stars — Zach LaVine, Coby White, and Nikola Vučević — aren’t exactly known for locking opponents down.

In this context, Giddey’s defensive struggles have become even more glaring, especially when compared to the impact of Alex Caruso, who was traded to Oklahoma City in exchange for Giddey. Bulls fans haven’t held back in drawing that unfavorable comparison.

About seven weeks ago, Giddey reached a breaking point. In a game against Cleveland where the Bulls lost 144-126, the Cavaliers ran play after play to force Giddey into mismatches on defense. It got so bad that he was benched during crunch time. Sitting in the locker room after the game, Giddey replayed every mistake in his head. “Damn,” he thought repeatedly. It was a moment of reckoning.

He realized he had two choices: accept his role as a subpar defender and risk becoming unplayable in key moments, or make a commitment to improving. “Eventually, you reach a point where you decide what kind of defender you’re going to be,” Giddey said. “That game stuck with me. I knew I had to make a stand defensively.”

Physically, Giddey has tools that could help him become better on defense. At 6-foot-8, he’s taller than most point guards and doesn’t face many size mismatches. Even his teammates joke that he shouldn’t be considered a guard on defense because of his height. Bulls coach Billy Donovan has also highlighted Giddey’s length and agility as assets that should translate into better defensive play.

But the challenge lies in turning potential into results. Both Donovan and Giddey know that defensive growth requires effort, attention to detail, and consistency. “He’s improving,” Donovan said. “He’s competitive, he studies film, and he’s eager to learn. That willingness to grow is showing on the court.”

Giddey is keeping things realistic. He knows improvement won’t happen overnight. For now, he’s focusing on small steps: staying disciplined against shot fakes, fighting harder through screens, and maintaining focus when off the ball.

“I’m not aiming for perfection,” Giddey said. “Players are going to score sometimes — that’s just basketball. But it’s about effort and pride. Some guys are naturally gifted defenders, but for someone like me, it takes work.”

For the Bulls organization, Giddey’s progress on defense could significantly influence their long-term plans. The team didn’t extend his contract before the October 21 deadline, which means they’ll have until summer to decide if he fits into their future. This gives them time to evaluate whether Giddey can develop into a reliable defender and closer for the team.

If he doesn’t show enough improvement by the end of the season, it could complicate matters for a roster already heavy with perimeter players. With just 48 games left in the regular season, Giddey knows he’s running out of time to prove he’s worth investing in.

The pressure is on, but for Giddey, this season is all about proving to himself — and the league — that he can rise above his defensive struggles and shed the target off his back once and for all.