In a game he ‘obviously circled’ on the Bulls’ schedule, Josh Giddey produced solid play against his former team on Sunday — and capped the reunion in heart-warming fashion.

Chicago might have fallen comprehensively to the title-contending Oklahoma City Thunder in its home opener, but its new ball-handler didn’t hesitate in attacking his former teammates — finishing with 14 points on 6-12 shooting from the field, seven rebounds and four assists.

The 22-year-old didn’t have the same three-point shooting success on Sunday as he did against Milwaukee — when he shot 2-2 from distance — air-balling his first attempt and finishing the night 2-6.

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However, as he did against the Bucks on Saturday, the fourth-year guard repeatedly forced his way into the paint and finished multiple times from close range — unafraid to use glass as he sought contact.

And despite his Bulls falling to the Thunder by a score of 114-95, Giddey reunited with his former Thunder compatriots in a touching post-game scene.

Oklahoma City centre Chet Holmgren said in his post-game press conference: “It’s a business — an extremely serious business — but you can’t lose sight of the relationships that you grow with guys along the way.”

While Giddey lined up against familiar faces on Sunday, so did ex-Bulls guard Alex Caruso for the Thunder — the other half of the blockbuster off-season trade that saw Giddey land in Chicago — when the sides met at the United Center.

Caruso, an NBA All-Defensive Second Team member last season, at times matched up against the Australian when they shared the court.

Giddey started his scoring with a nifty reverse layup in the first quarter, notching six points and four rebounds in the first period. He finished the first half 4-7 from the field for eight points, with six rebounds and two assists as the Bulls trailed by 20.

“That’s what he did so well against Milwaukee,” Bulls broadcast analyst Stacey King noted after Giddey drove and scored for his fourth make in the paint in the first half.

Speaking pre-game on Sunday, Giddey only had positive things to say about the Thunder — where he began his professional career as the No. 6 pick in the 2021 NBA draft and played three seasons.

“When you play your former team, you obviously circle it on your calendar. But you’ll never, ever hear me say a bad word about that organisation,” Giddey said.

“Top to bottom, (they’re) unbelievable people. I’m looking forward to seeing them all. I love that organisation.”

Giddey has averaged 15.5 points on 52.4 per cent shooting, 6.0 assists and 5.5 rebounds in his first three games of the 2024-25 season.

“I think the playmaking is huge and a thing that is going to help us a lot,” centre Nikola Vucevic said of Giddey.

“He makes passes that not many people can see, and I think his size is something that people underestimate a little bit.

“For him it’s the same as it is for us — just getting used to playing next to each other. As a team we need to build that chemistry, but I think he’s a player that can help us a lot, especially with his vision.

“We want to play fast, and I think that’s his style as well.”

The Bulls, now 1-2 on the new season, played on the second night of a back-to-back after unexpectedly downing the Bucks in Milwaukee the night before — knocking down 21 threes; already eclipsing their best figure of 19 from the season before.

Giddey scored 17 points on 6-10 shooting with nine assists and six rebounds against the Bucks on Saturday.

Revitalised guard Lonzo Ball returned on Sunday after missing Saturday’s win, having made his NBA return in the season-opener against New Orleans.