The Bulls got the result they wanted in their preseason opener, taking down Phoenix 124-117, and the first look at this group offered a few clear early notes.
For Chicago, the night wasn’t about the final score alone. It was about who looked ready to lean into bigger roles, who flashed a usable skill right away, and which young players gave the Bulls something to keep watching as the preseason rolls on.
Caleb Wilson made an immediate impression by playing with real force. He put up 15 points, going 6-for-15 from the field and 0-for-4 from 3-point range.
The shot from deep didn’t fall, but the bigger takeaway was the confidence. Wilson was willing to take 15 shots in his first preseason game, and that kind of aggression matters when a rookie is trying to get comfortable at the NBA level.
One game is far too small a sample to say anything definitive about his perimeter shooting, but the volume alone was a good sign.
Matas Buzelis had a quieter night from outside, missing all six of his 3-point attempts, but he still found a way to stand out. The part of his game that popped was the downhill attack.
When he got into the paint and went straight at the rim, he looked comfortable and effective. That’s the kind of pressure point that could become a steady source of offense for him if he keeps leaning into it during the regular season.
Tobe Awaka was one of the most productive players on the floor in limited minutes. In 21 minutes, he scored 14 points and pulled down 11 rebounds while shooting 6-for-8.
He also added a block and a steal. Coming off the bench, he showed exactly the sort of scoring and rebounding presence that can earn a coach’s trust.
If he keeps producing like that, it’s hard to picture him not carving out a regular role. There’s also a possible fit next to Josh Giddey, with Awaka giving Giddey a big target inside.
Dailyn Swain also gave Chicago something to build on. He finished with 10 points on perfect shooting, 3-for-3 from the field, while handing out six assists and recording two steals.
The three turnovers are part of the learning curve, but the broader picture was encouraging. For a rookie, that’s a strong place to start.
Norman Powell provided the veteran punch the Bulls can lean on. He hit 3-for-4 from 3-point range and finished with 14 points in 14 minutes.
For a young team, that kind of efficient scoring matters. If Powell can serve as the offensive anchor, especially from deep, it would fit neatly alongside what Buzelis and Wilson bring to the mix.
In Other News...
Bulls Already Face A Tough Dailyn Swain Decision
Chicagos preseason has been a testing ground for Tiago Splitters new-look approach, and rookie Dailyn Swain has been right in the middle of it. The Bulls have been giving him on-ball reps early, letting him handle more creation than most first-year players are asked to manage, a sign that the staff wants to learn quickly what kind of upside he can carry and how soon it might matter.
Swains path, though, is still very much in evaluation mode. His Summer League stint was rough, and a recent game against the Suns showed both the promise and the growing pains of asking him to do so much so soon. For now, the question is less about whether he can eventually take on a bigger role and more about whether he first needs steadier comfort in off-ball work before Chicago pushes him any further. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Rotation Questions Are Already Mounting After Preseason Opener
Caleb Wilsons preseason debut gave the Bulls a first look at just how fluid the early rotation could be, even with a team-high 15 points. His scoring stood out, but the rest of his night was uneven, and the same was true in different ways for the backcourt and frontcourt pieces trying to take advantage of extra minutes. With Tyus Jones sidelined by a hip injury, rookie Dailyn Swain handled more of the ball and finished with 10 points and six assists, a sign the Bulls may need to lean on him sooner than expected.
The bigger wrinkle came inside, where injuries to Nic Claxton and Zach Collins pushed Jalen Smith into the starting center spot and opened the door for two-way rookie Tobe Awaka. Awaka made the most of it with 14 points and 11 rebounds, giving Chicago a useful answer in the moment while also adding another name to a rotation picture that already looks unsettled after one preseason game. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Preseason Opener Put Early Wing Rotation Pressure In Focus
The Bulls preseason opener offered an early look at how the wing minutes might be sorted once the games start counting. Chicago leaned on its young forwards in the win over Phoenix, with Matas Buzelis and rookie Caleb Wilson both getting on the scoreboard, while the rest of the rotation was still being sorted out as the coaching staff continued to evaluate fit and usage.
Patrick Williams and Noa Essengue did not enter until midway through the third quarter, a timing note that says plenty about how little is settled on the depth chart just yet. For a team trying to build a workable wing rotation, those late first appearances matter, especially when preseason is as much about opportunity as it is about the final score. [Read more 🡒]