NBA Star Josh Giddey Makes Poker Debut at Aussie Millions

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Will Shillibier

Managing Editor

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May 07, 2026 3 min read

Table Of Contents

• Learning Poker in the NBA
• From Cash Games to the Aussie Millions
• Vegas on the Horizon?

In the NBA, or even any professional sport, rookies often get taken under the wing of senior players. They're shown the ropes, explained the unwritten rules and sometimes...taught how to play cards.

At least that's what it was like for NBA youngster Josh Giddey, point guard for the Chicago Bulls** who is back in his home town for the return of the Aussie Millions.

PokerNews_ caught up with the 23-year-old who says he's enjoying his poker, especially playing his first major tournament in his hometown.

Learning Poker in the NBA

While Giddey currently plays for the Bulls, he was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder. It's there he first had a run-in with cards.

"I learned how to play on a flight while I was in Oklahoma City," he told PokerNews. "One of my veterans - some guys on the team - taught a few of us how to play poker. That's how I really started to get into it and enjoy it. Then I started playing home games with my teammates in Oklahoma."

**"It's always been a lot of fun to me, especially now that I've started taking it seriously"

Subsequent trips back to Melbourne saw Giddey connect with those in the poker industry here in Australia, and his love for the game grew further still.

"It's always been a lot of fun to me, especially now that I've started taking it seriously. I'm not going to say serious as in like a professional, but I watch a lot and I really enjoy playing it.

From Cash Games to the Aussie Millions

Predominantly a cash game player, Giddey says that the Aussie Millions Main Event was his first ever real taste of tournament play, and that he felt a little "out of his weight class" in a field with more experienced players.

"It's pretty cool for my first tournament to be in Australia, and Melbourne in particular, where I'm from. It's awesome to see so many people here, a lot of good players. So I'm enjoying it and it's a lot of fun. Hopefully it keeps going well for me."

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Giddey made it to Day 2 and noted the difference in pace compared to his usual sessions.

"It took me a little while to get the swing of things. It's completely different to cash games, with the way guys play. I think I'm getting the hang of it, slowly. But I probably still prefer cash games.

"But they're long days, I mean I'm sitting here for 12 hours. I'm not used to this! Just got to stay patient and hopefully keep getting some good hands."

Vegas on the Horizon?

Giddey is no stranger to Las Vegas, playing there during the NBA Summer League** in 2021. Now, with the eyes of the poker world and thousands of players descending on the city for this year's World Series of Poker, will Giddey be jumping in an event or two? Quite possibly.

"There's definitely a chance," he says. "If the timing lines up, and I'm in Vegas while the WSOP is going on, I will probably play in it. The Aussie Millions Main Event was the first tournament I've ever played, so it's a pretty big first two steps into the tournament world with the Aussie Millions Main Event and then the World Series!

"But I've enjoyed watching the WSOP over the years. If there's an event I could play in, if not this year, then one day for sure, it has to be the WSOP."

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