The Caleb Wilson era officially kicked off in the Windy City with a bang, and the Chicago Bulls absolutely took down Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns 124-117 in their preseason opener on Wednesday night at the United Center. Yeah, the final score was sweet, but everyone was there for one reason: the debut of the No. 4 overall pick from the 2026 NBA draft, and let me tell you, the North Carolina product delivered in double figures.
Wilson Flashes Star Potential From the Jump
This kid came out firing, putting up 15 points, grabbing 3 boards, dishing out 2 assists, and even snagging a steal. You saw glimpses of why he was the No. 4 pick right away. His very first basket? A smooth fadeaway jumper. He wasn’t doing just one thing, either. We saw a slick turnaround jumper, and then an impressive reverse finish at the rim when he attacked. This dude is gonna find all kinds of ways to score, which is exactly what you want to see from a rookie. And the crowd? They absolutely went wild when he broke free in transition and threw down a monster two-handed dunk. This high-flyer is gonna be playing above the rim whenever he can, and he wasted no time putting on a show. His teammates Matas Buzelis added 14 points, and Tobe Awaka put up 14 points and a whopping 11 rebounds. Even with Devin Booker scoring 11 and Dillon Brooks dropping 24 for Phoenix, the Bulls got the W.
The One Thing Wilson’s Got to Fix, STAT
Okay, so it wasn’t all fireworks. Wilson absolutely struggled from deep, missing all four of his three-point attempts. Look, if he’s gonna truly live up to those huge expectations, he’s gotta figure out how to hit some shots from beyond the arc. Especially when defenders start collapsing on Buzelis and Josh Giddey, which they totally will. He did more than enough to make up for those perimeter shooting woes in this game, but it’s a glaring spot to work on. His efficiency was also a concern, going 6-of-15 from the field, and the Bulls are definitely gonna want him to be more of a factor on the glass. Those are things that usually come with more experience though, so let’s not panic yet.
Is This the Start of Something Special in Chicago?
The Bulls haven’t gotten past the play-in tournament since the 2021-22 campaign, and they haven’t won a playoff series since 2014-15. That’s a long time to be stuck, man. But Wilson is a high-flying, foundational cornerpiece that could legit thrive for years. Even if the team struggles with their record this season, his potential with young talent like Buzelis and Giddey already on the roster should give everyone a huge reason to be optimistic. There’s still plenty for Wilson to work on, for sure, but after his first taste of NBA action, there’s a whole lot to be excited about. This kid could really be the turning point for this franchise, and we just got our first peek at what that could look like.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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