The Chicago Bulls had identified a possible Summer League steal in Donovan Atwell, and now he’s heading back to college instead.
Atwell has been granted a fifth year of NCAA eligibility after a Colorado court ruling, clearing up the uncertainty around his future and sending him back to Texas A&M for the 2026-27 season. He had already gone through the NBA Draft process and played in Summer League before making the decision to return.
That’s a tough turn for Chicago, especially because Atwell looked the part in Las Vegas. The 22-year-old guard hit 48.5 percent of his threes across five games, knocking down more than 3.0 long-range shots per night. He saved his best for the finale against the Cavaliers, pouring in 22 points while going 6-7 from deep.
Atwell’s calling card is obvious. During his strong 2025-26 season with the Red Raiders, he averaged 13.5 points and took 8.3 three-pointers a game, making 45.8 percent of them. That kind of shooting is exactly why the Bulls moved quickly to bring him onto their Summer League roster.
There was no guarantee Atwell would have stayed in Chicago even if he had remained available. Still, Summer League standouts often stick around for training camp and preseason, usually on Exhibit-10 deals that can also steer them toward the team’s G-League affiliate.
What Atwell added beyond the jumper helped his case, too. He showed some real defensive competence, which mattered because questions about his all-around game were part of why he went undrafted in the first place.
His performance was strong enough that he appeared to be in the conversation for Chicago’s third two-way spot. The Bulls have one left after handing out deals to Jaylin Sellers and Tobe Awaka after the draft. Given the team’s lack of shooting depth, Atwell looked like the kind of low-risk bet teams love to make.
Instead, he’s back with Texas A&M, where NIL could very well offer more than a G League or two-way contract would. And after what he showed in Summer League, Atwell has likely raised his profile around the league and may be in position to move up the 2027 draft board, a class described as pretty underwhelming.
Could the Bulls circle back on him later? Sure. But for now, losing a shooter with that kind of upside hurts a bit.
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