Rob Dillingham is officially a Chicago Bull, and for fans looking for a spark in the Windy City, this could be a name to watch closely. The 6’2” point guard out of Hickory, North Carolina, arrived via a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves - a fresh start for a player whose talent has never been in question, even if the opportunity has been.
Dillingham was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft after a standout freshman season at Kentucky under John Calipari. He averaged 15 points per game, earned SEC Sixth Man of the Year honors, and was named both All-SEC and to the SEC All-Freshman Team. Simply put, he made noise in Lexington - and did it with flair.
But his rookie season in Minnesota didn’t offer the same runway. Minutes were hard to come by, and he occasionally found himself on the outside looking in with DNPs. That’s not uncommon for young guards trying to find their footing in a crowded backcourt, but it can stall development for players who thrive on rhythm and confidence.
Now in Chicago, Dillingham gets a reset - and maybe the runway he needs to take off. He’s not your traditional floor general, but he is the kind of scorer who can shift momentum in a heartbeat.
Think microwave offense: quick bursts, sudden heat. He can score at all three levels, pull up from deep, and has the kind of shake that makes defenders second-guess their footing.
That kind of scoring punch doesn’t grow on trees, and the Bulls are betting on his upside.
His debut in a Bulls uniform gave a glimpse of what he might bring to the table. In 22 minutes against the Denver Nuggets, Dillingham put up nine points, four assists, three rebounds, and a steal. It wasn’t a headline-grabbing stat line, but it was solid - and more importantly, it came with flashes of the shot creation and confidence that made him a top-10 pick.
The key for Chicago will be how they develop him. Dillingham isn’t just a scorer - he has the tools to be a dynamic offensive weapon if given the right structure.
That means consistent minutes, a clear role, and a coaching staff willing to live with the growing pains that come with grooming a young guard. If the Bulls can help him expand his floor game - improving his reads, tightening his handle under pressure, and becoming more of a facilitator - they might just unlock something special.
Kentucky fans already know what he’s capable of. He was a fan favorite in Lexington for a reason - fearless, flashy, and capable of taking over a game in a blink. Now, Bulls fans will be hoping to see that same energy translate to the NBA level.
This move to Chicago might be exactly what Rob Dillingham needs: a fresh chapter, a bigger role, and a team willing to invest in his potential. The tools are there. Now it’s about turning promise into production.