Caleb Wilson’s first night in a Bulls uniform is set up to be a moment. If everything breaks the right way in practice leading into Chicago’s Oct. 7, 2026 preseason opener against the Phoenix Suns at the United Center, the arena should be packed and ready for the full introduction - college, height, position, name - that always gets the building buzzing. And if Wilson becomes the player the Bulls believe he can be, his North Carolina roots could become part of the franchise’s permanent identity.
That connection already has some history behind it. The University of North Carolina has sent only a small group of Tar Heels to Chicago, a list that stands out because of how closely the Bulls’ legacy is tied to those players.
Coby White is the most recent example, having played for the franchise from 2019 to 2026. Before him came Scott Williams, whose arrival helped shape one of the most important stretches in team history.
And above all of them looms Michael Jordan, the man whose name made “Froooom North Carolina” part of Bulls lore.
Wilson hasn’t written his chapter yet. But the Tar Heels who came before him left real marks.
Scott Williams got his opening in the most old-school way possible: a pickup game in North Carolina that included Michael Jordan. Williams said that run was enough to catch Jordan’s attention, and Jordan then pitched former Bulls general manager Jerry Krause on giving him a tryout.
From there, Williams turned a small break into a long stay, becoming a dependable piece on three Bulls championship teams. Across 185 regular-season games with Chicago, he averaged 11.5 points per 36 minutes, 12.0 rebounds per 36 minutes, 1.2 steals per 36 minutes, and 1.7 blocks per 36 minutes.
White’s path was different, and a lot less straightforward. Drafted seventh overall in 2019, he spent his first four seasons bouncing between the starting lineup and the bench while the Bulls dealt with major changes in the front office and coaching staff after the 2019-20 season.
By the 2022-23 campaign, it would have been easy to assume he was on his way out before the 2023 trade deadline. Instead, White stayed, kept producing, and forced the issue.
He earned a three-year extension in the 2023 offseason, then followed it with a breakout 2023-24 season in which he averaged 19.1 points per game and finished second in NBA Most Improved Player voting.
And then there’s Jordan, the gold standard for every Bull who has followed. No one needs a refresher on what he means to the franchise or the sport, but his presence still hangs over every North Carolina connection that walks through the door in Chicago.
For Wilson, that means the expectations will come fast. The first “Froooom North Carolina” in the United Center will not just be a lineup announcement.
It will be a reminder of the company he’s being asked to join.
In Other News...
Bulls Face A Tough Roster Choice In Their Rebuild
The Bulls rebuild has room for a useful veteran, especially one who can help stretch the floor without demanding a larger role. Charlottes latest roster shuffle has only added to the sense that a few experienced names could become available as the Hornets work through a crowded roster picture, and Chicago is the kind of team that can afford to keep an eye on that market while it sorts out its own long-term plans.
One player worth watching is Pat Connaughton, a wing who brings three-point shooting and defensive value in a package that fits a young roster looking for stability. His championship background also gives him a kind of credibility that can matter in a locker room, and if Charlotte continues trimming toward its regular-season limit, the Bulls could have a real decision to make about whether that blend of skills is worth pursuing. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Take A Closer Look At Young Guard Depth In Camp
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Suders path is the more notable one in that mix, given how quickly these opportunities can change for players trying to establish themselves. The Bulls are not the only team taking that route, either, with Detroit signing Jordan Riley and San Antonio adding rookie guard Miles Barnstable, underscoring how many clubs are using camp to take a longer look at younger guards before the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Frontcourt Future May Depend On One Risky Free Agency Swing
With the Bulls still sorting out the long-term shape of their frontcourt, the league has started to connect them to a high-upside big man who would change the conversation quickly. Jalen Duren has emerged as a name to watch in restricted free agency, and his combination of size, athleticism and rim pressure is the kind of profile that could appeal to Chicago as it looks for a more defined path in the paint.
The challenge is that the market for Duren may not stay open for long, and Chicago would not be alone in weighing the cost of making a serious run. Milwaukee and Sacramento are also said to have interest, which only raises the stakes for a team trying to balance immediate fit with future flexibility, and leaves the Bulls facing a familiar offseason question: whether to take a swing on talent before someone else locks it up. [Read more 🡒]