The Chicago Bulls absolutely struck gold with their No. 4 pick. Caleb Wilson has been must-watch television in the NBA Summer League, and while those performances should often be taken with a grain of salt, his greatness and determination are more than evident.
Even with games seemingly out of reach, the rookie out of UNC has been the hungriest, most aggressive, and most relentless player on the court in each and every single one of his games. He wants all the smoke, and he's given 100 percent effort on both sides of the field.
That's why, after drawing so many comparisons to Kevin Garnett in the pre-draft process, the Hall of Fame power forward had to see for himself. When Kristina Pink of NBA on Prime asked him about the comps, Garnett had the perfect nickname for the Bulls' rookie: The Little Ticket.
Kevin Garnett seems to agree with Caleb Wilson comparisons
“There’s been some comparisons between Caleb Wilson and that ceiling being something of a Kevin Garnett. So, he told me, ‘I had to pull up. I’m Big Ticket. I came here to see the Little Ticket… He said, ‘I’ve heard great things, but I actually don’t know him at all. I’ve watched him from afar, and I’ve heard great things, and I just wanted to see him in person,” Pink recalled.
Wilson hasn't been perfect by any means. He's turned the ball over at a high rate, and that's something to keep an eye on ahead of his rookie season. That said, those turnovers have been mostly about him wanting to make a point. He should be fine.
Even when he's given the ball away, he's sprinted full speed to clean up his mess, whether it's by altering shots, swatting them into the third row, or getting a steal. Then, he brings the ball up himself and knocks down a shot.
Wilson has talked trash, gotten into his opposition's faces, and fired up his own teammates. While his game is more similar to a wing than a traditional big, there's definitely plenty of Kevin Garnett in his mindset and the way he carries himself.
Summer League is meaningless until it isn't. Yes, the competition is subpar, and it's most about development and shaking off the jitters than anything else. Still, Wilson has shown the intangibles and the desire that drives good players and turns them into absolute legends.
He wants to win every game, every possession. He's also proved the doubters wrong by doing the two things some said he couldn't: Play consistent defense and knock down shots from all three levels. That's not accidental; he heard all the noise and is keeping receipts.
The Bulls won't be a great team this season, and watching Dailyn Swain and Noa Essengue in Summer League left a bad taste in fans' mouths. Even so, Wilson is clearly special, and he'll make this a must-watch team even in the late-season blowouts.
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