Australian basketball sensation Josh Giddey has once again captured global attention with an extraordinary long-range shot during the Chicago Bulls’ matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. However, the spectacular 25-meter heave that would have ranked among the longest in NBA history was controversially nullified due to a prior timeout call.
The dramatic moment occurred with just four minutes remaining in Tuesday’s contest at the United Center in Chicago, where Giddey launched an seemingly effortless shot from approximately 82 feet that cleanly found the net. The astonishing basket evoked immediate comparisons to his game-winning three-pointer against the same Lakers team last March in one of the most memorable finishes of the previous season.
NBA officials confirmed the shot’s invalidation as Chicago had already requested a timeout moments before Giddey’s release. The ruling prevented what would have been the sixth-longest made basket in league history, falling just short of Baron Davis’ record 89-foot (27m) achievement from 2001.
Broadcast commentators captured the surreal moment with exclamations of “Oh my gosh, magic Giddey again!” and noted the player’s particular affinity for dramatic performances against the Lakers franchise.
Despite the disappointment, Giddey delivered an impressive individual performance with 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists coming off the bench in his third game returning from a hamstring injury. The Bulls ultimately fell 129-118 to the Lakers, who were led by Luka Dončić’s spectacular 46-point showcase.
The return of Giddey provides crucial reinforcement for Chicago as they battle to secure automatic playoff qualification in the Eastern Conference and avoid the play-in tournament positioning.