“I’m back.” These were the words of Michael Jordan in 1995-96 when he returned from his brief retirement to lead the team to a then-record 72 regular-season wins. It seems he’s back again. Now, you could say that yes, he’s back, and you’re already seeing him as the “special contributor” on NBC. Last week, as the season opened, MJ shared little snippets about life and how long it’s been since he touched a basketball, but he insists he could still swish it if given the chance to play in today’s NBA. And while that may be wishful thinking, the younger generation might just be seeing MJ back on the court, at least in spirit.

The Chicago Bulls have kicked off the 2025-26 season with a perfect 4-0 record. That might sound familiar to basketball fans and for good reason. The last time the Bulls started a season this strong was back in 1996-97, during the Michael Jordan era, a year that ended with their fifth championship, posting a 69-13 record. 

Looking back at that streak, they opened with a 107–98 win over the Celtics, followed by a dominant 115–86 victory against the 76ers. Game three saw them crush the Grizzlies 96–73, and they wrapped up the four-game run with a 106–100 win against the Heat.

Fast forward to today, and a similar energy seems to be in the air. The name making waves this season? Josh Giddey. 

In the 1996-97 season, Michael Jordan was 33 years old and playing shooting guard for the Chicago Bulls. He played all 82 games, starting each one, and averaged nearly 38 minutes per game. Jordan scored 29.6 points per game, shot almost 49% from the field, and hit over 37% of his three-pointers, while also making 83% of his free throws.

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That season, Jordan racked up a slew of awards: MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, NBA All-Star, First Team All-NBA, and First Team All-Defense, proving he was still at the top of his game. He also made NBA history by becoming the first player to record a triple-double in the All-Star Game, finishing with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.

But basketball fans would also remember that this wasn’t the first time the Bulls started a season 4-0 without Jordan; they did it back in 2021 as well.

But now the spotlight is on Josh Giddey, and fans are already making a case for him to earn an All-Star nod.

Fans react to Josh Giddey leading the Bulls to a 4-0 start

Among the fans, the call was loud and clear: “All-Star season??” And looking at Josh Giddey’s numbers, it’s easy to see why. Over the first four games of the season, he’s been consistently impressive. His stat lines show just how all-around his game has been:

• 20 points, 8 rebounds, 12 assists
• 18 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists
• 21 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
• 19 points, 5 rebounds, 11 assists

Wednesday night was no different. The Chicago Bulls stayed perfect with a 126-113 win over the Sacramento Kings, and Josh Giddey shone again with a near triple-double: 20 points, 12 assists, and eight rebounds.

Nikola Vucevic also contributed big with 13 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists, while Kevin Huerter added 18 points. The team shot an impressive 53.8% from the field, and with Giddey playing like this, it’s no wonder fans are already talking All-Star.

After the Bulls’ latest win, fans couldn’t hide their relief, with one tweeting, “Can’t believe we missed out on Giddey this offseason f–.” The excitement isn’t surprising, after months of tense negotiations and an apparent stalemate this summer, Josh Giddey finally signed a four-year, $100 million deal to stay in Chicago through the 2028-29 season.

Giddey had come to the Bulls after his role started to fade with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2023-24. Despite all the talk about contracts and what could have been, Giddey remained confident, saying, “This is where I wanted to be.” And now, it’s clear any doubts about his value are already fading.

One enthusiastic fan made their prediction clear: “2026 Champs soon💯💯💯#SeeRed 😤😤😤,” and with the way the Bulls have been playing, it doesn’t feel too far-fetched.

In their game against the Kings, Matas Buzelis led the charge with 27 points, and the Bulls dominated the third quarter 39-27, shooting an incredible 65.4% from the field and racking up 14 assists, with Giddey contributing five of them.

They carried that momentum into the fourth, extending their lead to 17 points. After their win over the Hawks, Giddey praised the team’s mentality, saying, “We’ve got a selfless group. We all want to win. That’s our No. 1 priority.” It’s clear this Bulls squad is playing with both skill and heart.

Another fan reacted, “Giddey been balling out 😲😤.” And it’s easy to see why. After today’s performance, Josh Giddey is posting career highs across the board, averaging 19.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game.

He’s clearly making a big impact on both ends of the floor, though he’s also turning the ball over more than ever, averaging 4.0 per game. That’s still among the league’s highest, trailing only the likes of Stephon Castle, Devin Booker, Cade Cunningham, and Shaedon Sharpe.

Another fan made a strong case for Josh Giddey as a candidate for another award, writing, “Him and Deni Advija are easily 1 and 2 for MIP.” Giddey is certainly in the conversation, especially after his breakout run last season.

The 22-year-old guard played 70 regular-season games, averaging 14.6 points while setting career highs with 8.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. He also shot 46.5% from the field and a career-best 37.8% from three-point range.

Fans are also pointing to Deni Advija of the Blazers, who recently dropped 25 points against the Lakers, showing the competition for Most Improved Player is heating up.