The Chicago Bulls wrapped up their Summer League with a 1-4 record. However, while the scores were usually far from encouraging, Tiago Splitter's team should leave Las Vegas excited and encouraged about their prized rookie.
Caleb Wilson was arguably the best player in the tournament. He averaged 23.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 3.3 triples, 1.3 steals, and 2.5 blocks per contest on 50/42/33 shooting splits, and he looked like someone looking to make a statement on every possession.
Notably, Wilson outplayed No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer in their head-to-head matchup, and he wanted an opportunity to do the same to AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson, the first two picks. That's why, once he found out they wouldn't suit up to face him, he explained why he's different from the average rookie:
“I feel like I’m different than all of them. Not to say they don’t, but I enjoy basketball. I love this shit. I’m going to play as much as I can," Dybantsa said, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic.
The Bulls landed a true competitor in Caleb Wilson
Of course, that was before the Bulls ultimately decided to sit him for the Summer League finale, knowing that there wasn't anything at stake. That said, Dybantsa and Peterson sat out much earlier, with their teams taking away an opportunity to showcase their talent against a fellow top draftee.
The Bulls' decision to take Caleb Wilson with the No. 4 pick was a no-brainer. With four franchise-caliber prospects entering the league, they would just let the board make their pick for them, and they should've felt excited about any of the young men they could've gotten there.
However, Wilson already looks different, and it goes well beyond his skills. He's got a chip on his shoulder the size of Illinois, and he's played with the determination and competitive mindset you only see in the all-time greats.
Of course, that has also led to some erratic play at times. He turned the ball over at an alarming rate, mostly due to his determination to make a statement. That won't happen as often in the regular season, as he won't put the ball on the floor or initiate the offense as often.
Still, it was nice to see him hear the noise and listen to those who claimed he couldn't play consistent defense or stretch the floor with his shooting. He was an elite defender and shot well from all three levels, so what are they gonna say now?
Granted, this is just the Summer League, and it won't matter until he does it in the regular season. But even if the Bulls struggle as they did in Las Vegas, it's already become crystal clear that they've found a true star in the making.
| More Bulls News and Rumors |
Add us as a preferred source on Google