Josh Giddey Basketball Camp a slam dunk at Stirling Leisure – Mirrabooka
Chicago Bulls point guard Josh Giddey was the star attraction at Stirling Leisure – Mirrabooka on Saturday where he headlined a basketball camp to raise money for a great cause.
Organised by Perth charity A Stitch in Time, the camp gave more than 300 kids – including Telethon children and their families – the chance to meet one of the best young playmakers in world basketball.
At the age of just 23, Giddey is on a four-year $150 million contract with the Chicago Bulls as one of the cornerstones of their young roster.
He finished the 2025-26 NBA season with the second most triple-doubles in the league, despite missing 28 games.
It goes without saying that a player of his calibre will be critical to the success of the Australian Boomers at the 2027 FIBA World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics.
But for all his fame and fortune, it was his humility that stood out on Saturday, according to A Stitch in Time founder Greg Hire.
"Six hours of talking, taking photos and signing autographs is pretty exhausting, but you wouldn't have known it with Josh," Hire said.
"He wanted to make sure every single kid got a photo or had something signed. I've had plenty of interactions with athletes where you don't get that humility."
The camp involved a range of physical and mental skill development drills led by experienced coaches, as well Q&A sessions with the Australian NBA star.
Hire, a four-time NBL champion with the Perth Wildcats, said Giddey spoke candidly about his unusual journey to the NBA during the Q&A sessions.
Giddey was repeatedly cut from his state squad in Victoria as a teenager, but he used those setbacks as motivation and ended up being selected as one of the top picks in the 2021 NBA draft.
"The objective was to put smiles on kids' faces but I think what's really cool is that there were a lot of natural takeaways that parents can talk to their kids about," Hire said.
"He spoke about dealing with setbacks and failure and how if things don't go your way, you continue working hard.
"They weren't your standard responses – he put some thought into them and they were authentic."
The Josh Giddey Basketball Camp raised money for A Stitch in Time, which aims to build positive mental health and resilience in young people across WA.
The City is proud to partner with A Stitch in Time to deliver workshops in the local community that focus on mental health awareness, emotional resilience and practical support tools.
The camp further highlights the resurgence of Stirling Leisure – Mirrabooka as a vibrant community basketball hub through the Warwick Senators domestic competition and development programs, Perth Rhinos basketball development and life skills programs, Rebound WA wheelchair basketball and spinners programs, Spring Classic basketball tournament and Summer Jam streetball tournament.
