The Chicago Bulls took French forward Noa Essengue with the No. 12 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. It was a mostly underwhelming class, and while they could've rolled the dice on guys like Derik Queen, Carter Bryant, or Walter Clayton Jr., they chose upside over NBA-readiness.
Essengue's selection was polarizing at the time. The physical tools were evident, but so were the flaws. He was a long-term project who was probably a couple of years away from being a legitimate contributor.
That's why having him miss all but two games of his rookie season with a shoulder injury was a big blow. And if that was concerning enough, his first comments ahead of Summer League should only raise more doubts.
Bulls' Noa Essengue says he must learn how to play again
“Not playing for a year, that was a hard time, not going to lie.," Essengue said, per Sports Illustrated. "Just being back out there, finding a new feeling for basketball. I got a new shoulder, so I have to learn how to play again. I just want to be back on the court, compete every game. Summer League is a great time for that.”
We're talking about someone who was already pretty raw, so this doesn't sound good at all. It's pretty much the same thing Markelle Fultz said about his freak injury, and we already know how that turned out for him.
At least, there are some encouraging signs with his body. He's fully healthy, and he's reportedly grown closer to seven feet in-between seasons. He had a 7-foot-1 wingspan and 9-foot-2 standing reach as a rookie, so he must be even more physically imposing now.
Essengue must bulk up and improve his shooting form. Still, he knocked down 84.2 percent of his free-throws in the G League, and the way he manhandled veterans in the paint was also encouraging for the next level.
In just four games, he averaged 23.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game with nearly five trips to the free-throw line. Reports about his off-ball defense also gave signs of promise.
Even so, this simply cannot be overlooked. Even if he's a pick from the previous regime, the Bulls can't afford a No. 12 selection to go to waste. They must exhaust all avenues and resources at their disposal to help him get up to speed.
On the bright side, Essengue is a blank canvas, and as such, new head coach Tiago Splitter can mold him to be exactly who he envisions for this team. Has the size and -- on paper -- potential to play all frontcourt spots, so they should find ways to get him on the court.
Still, with Caleb Wilson, Daylin Swain, and Matas Buzelis potentially taking as many shots as they can handle, they must ensure Essengue isn't the odd man out in what will essentially be another rookie season.
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