Caleb Wilson’s return to North Carolina over the weekend came with a clip that made the rounds fast: the Bulls rookie was allegedly at the DKE fraternity and put on a quick one-man show that ended with a dunk.
The video shows Wilson sizing up a “primary” defender, pump-faking the ball high above his head, then crossing him over so cleanly the ball goes between the defender’s legs. From there, Wilson bounces it off the backboard to himself and finishes with an easy dunk.
Wilson’s trip back to Chapel Hill wasn’t limited to that viral possession. He was there for an alumni game on campus, and several highlights surfaced from the event. He shared the floor with former Tar Heels Harrison Barnes and Luke May, threw down a couple of dunks, and also spent time running the offense at point guard.
That part of his game is still a work in progress at the NBA level, even if it looked comfortable enough in an alumni setting. Wilson averaged nearly 3.0 assists per game in college, and his passing is a big reason he was viewed as a no-brainer Top 4 pick. The Bulls are expected to let him create off the bounce eventually, but reading pro defenses is a different animal.
This latest visit to UNC also fit the pattern Wilson has shown since the draft: he’s been in the gym constantly. He has already shown up at multiple runs in Chicago and recently dropped 60+ points in an event at Whitney M. Young High School.
For Chicago, the real basketball clock starts on October 21 in Toronto, when the Bulls open the season. They’ll play two on the road before Wilson makes his official United Center debut against No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa and the Wizards.
In Other News...
Bulls Fans Got Another Reason To Love This Offseason
Norman Powells arrival already gave Bulls fans something to like about this offseason, and the fit only looks better when you stack it against the rest of the leagues moves. Chicago brought in Nic Claxton, Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain and Powell while staying disciplined on the market, and the front office avoided getting drawn into a bidding war for Walker Kessler when the price climbed past what it wanted to pay.
Powell also arrives with a little edge, which tends to play well in Chicago. The veteran guard did not exactly soften his view of the Lakers, and with Los Angeles making splashy additions of its own, the contrast between the two teams summers has become part of the conversation. For Bulls fans, the bigger takeaway is that Chicago appears to have added depth and scoring without giving up flexibility, and Powells contract structure should make the move look even smarter if the fit comes together on the floor. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls' Kuminga Miss Reveals A Bigger Plan For Their Young Wings
The Bulls spent part of the offseason poking around the restricted free-agent market, with Bennedict Mathurin and Jonathan Kuminga both drawing their attention before Chicago moved on without landing either wing. Mathurin ended up with the New Orleans Pelicans, while Kuminga settled on a two-year deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, closing out a pursuit that suggested the Bulls were still searching for more size and playmaking on the perimeter.
Chicagos interest in Kuminga was real, but the fit never got far enough to make him feel like a centerpiece right away. Minnesota came at him with a path that looked clearer from the start, while the Bulls kept their options open as they weighed how much responsibility to hand over to another young wing. For a team trying to sort out its long-term rotation, that kind of decision says as much about where the Bulls are headed as it does about the players they missed. [Read more 🡒]
Taj Gibsons Bulls Return Could Mean More Than Fans Expected
Taj Gibsons next chapter appears to be taking shape in Chicago, where the longtime NBA big man is expected to move into coaching after a 17-season playing career. Gibson, who was previously waived by the New Orleans Pelicans, has already posted a farewell message to his playing days, and the Bulls are the franchise most closely tied to the transition as he lines up a possible role on Tiago Splitters staff.
The fit makes immediate sense for a player who spent so many years around the league and carved out a reputation as a reliable veteran presence. Gibson has not officially confirmed the coaching job yet, so there is still a bit of formality left before anything becomes official, but the direction is clear enough to suggest his return to Chicago could end up meaning more than a nostalgic reunion. [Read more 🡒]