NBA First Basket Picks Today (Oct. 26): Josh Giddey

Did we get a little overconfident after hitting just one of these daily first basket bets? Of course. But can you blame me? When these hit, they feel inevitable. When they don’t, it feels like you’re always right there. I know it’s not that simple, but I’m just saying this is fun. As you know, one winner a week is all we need to buy rental properties in Boca by the end of the season. Though if we do get to that point, we should collectively consider diversifying. Maybe some of us pick Arizona, others pick the Carolinas? These are problems for another day. Anywho.

For today’s pick, we’re rolling with a little bit more of a longshot. At odds, we like Josh Giddey to score the first basket in today’s Bulls vs. Celtics game. Let’s get it.

Remember, if I don’t hit two more of these bets before Thanksgiving, I will wear a dress in the Brickell Miami mall.

Why We Like Josh Giddey to Score the First Basket

I can already hear the Twitter warriors crying. I get it, Giddey hasn’t exactly come out of the gates hot. Through three games, he’s shooting 7-of-26 from the field and averaging just 5.7 points. That’s exactly why we’re getting this kind of price on him. This is a guy coming off a career year in 2025-26, when he averaged 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists per game. Three games is a tiny sample, and we’re more than happy to buy low on a player whose scoring floor is a lot higher than what he’s shown so far.

The game script should also play in our favor. Giddey runs the Bulls’ offense and is dishing 8.3 assists per game this season, so he’s touching the ball on just about every possession. He may be deferential so far, but he’s shown historically that he will take scoring opportunities when they present themselves.

Mitchell Robinson will probably win the tip for Boston — fair enough. The Celtics have failed to score on their first possession in each game this season. If that continues, Giddey is almost guaranteed a possession with the ball in his hands.

Is it a longshot? Sure. But do we really think Giddey should have longer odds than every other starter in this game?

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