The Bulls’ home opener will have plenty of names on the floor, but not the one many fans were most eager to see. AJ Dybantsa has been ruled out for Chicago’s matchup with Washington, pushing back his NBA debut again as he continues to deal with an ankle injury.
It will be the third straight game Dybantsa has missed. He did play in all four of the Wizards’ preseason games, but he still has not been cleared for the regular season.
The injury does not sound major, though Washington is clearly taking the careful route with its No. 1 overall pick. Monday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets now looks like the next possible window for his first appearance.
That absence takes some of the shine off an already intriguing night at the United Center. Bulls fans will still get a look at Anthony Davis and Trae Young, but the Caleb Wilson-Dybantsa matchup had been one of the biggest selling points of the game.
Wilson has already made it clear he views himself as the top player in the class, and the two had their first chance to square off in Summer League taken away when Washington held Dybantsa out in Las Vegas. Their next shot at meeting comes November 20, when the Wizards return to Chicago for an NBA Cup game.
Chicago also added a new name to the injury report on Saturday. Noa Essengue is dealing with a right head contusion, though he remains probable for the 7:00 p.m. CT tip-off.
That’s worth watching after Essengue’s best stretch yet in Milwaukee. He didn’t light up the box score with just 4 points, but his impact was felt on defense. The second-year forward had a strong block, added three steals, and used his length on the perimeter to bother the Bucks late.
It was the kind of performance that could line up more minutes for him going forward. Whether he gets them tonight remains to be seen.
Nic Claxton - OUT (hamstring)
Noa Essengue - PROBABLE (head)
AJ Dybantsa - OUT (ankle)
Tristan Vukcevic - OUT (hip)
In Other News...
Bulls First Win Showed Exactly How This Rebuild May Be Coached
The Bulls first win of the season came with a reminder that this rebuild may be shaped as much by coaching instincts as by raw talent. Against the Bucks, Tiago Splitter leaned into his bench and got meaningful production from Leonard Miller, Tre Jones and Caleb Wilson, while the group around them looked more connected than it had in the opener. Chicagos 1-1 start is still just a snapshot, but the way the roster was managed stood out as much as the result itself.
Splitters willingness to trust reserves over more established names like Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis gave the game a different feel, especially as the Bulls settled in and found a better rhythm. It also suggested a coach willing to make tough calls early in the process, which matters for a young team trying to sort out roles and identity. Whether that approach holds up as the schedule tightens is the next question, but for one night it worked. [Read more 🡒]
Caleb Wilson Just Gave Bulls Fans A Real Reason To Believe
After getting blown out by the Raptors in their season opener, the Bulls needed something to steady the mood quickly, and their response against Milwaukee at least gave the building a pulse again. Chicagos 132-125 win over the Bucks offered a first look at what Caleb Wilson can bring when the game tightens, and the rookie was right in the middle of it as the Bulls picked up their first victory of the season.
Wilson put up 21 points and six rebounds in the win, a solid showing that came with the kind of energy Chicago has been searching for since opening night. Just as important for a team trying to reset early, Wilson made it clear afterward that he intends to keep grinding and stay locked in as the schedule moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Miss Out On A Debut Fans Wanted To See
AJ Dybantsa will not make his NBA debut against the Bulls after the Wizards announced the No. 1 overall pick is out with a left ankle sprain. The injury has already kept him sidelined for three straight games, and Washington has continued to label him day-to-day as the rookie works his way back from the issue he picked up in the final preseason game.
For Bulls fans hoping to get an early look at one of the leagues most closely watched newcomers, the wait goes on. Chicago will have to keep tracking Dybantsa from afar for now, and the uncertainty around his return leaves the matchup without the kind of rookie spotlight that had been building around it. [Read more 🡒]