Caleb Wilson’s four-game run in Las Vegas changed the conversation around his scoring future.
At North Carolina, the 19-year-old freshman already looked like a problem because of his size, burst and feel. He averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds on 57.8% shooting and earned Second Team All-American honors by punishing defenses in transition, finishing through contact and covering ground on defense in ways few 6-foot-10 prospects can match.
But there was still a clear line between that physical package and true on-ball scoring. Wilson made just seven of 27 threes in college and rarely had to create from the perimeter off the dribble in Hubert Davis’ offense.
That gap looked a lot smaller after Summer League.
Wilson averaged 23.5 points and 7.3 rebounds in Las Vegas while shooting 50% from the field and hitting 13 of 31 threes, a 41.9% clip. He announced himself immediately in his debut against Memphis, going for 35 points on 7-for-11 shooting from deep. That was the second-most points ever scored in a first Summer League game.
The shooting numbers matter, but the way he got them matters even more. Wilson wasn’t just spotting up and hoping the ball went in.
He worked into rhythm pull-ups and step-backs off the dribble, keeping his handle tight enough to create space against pressure. That kind of perimeter shot-making looked nothing like the limitations he showed in college, and it changed the shape of his offensive ceiling.
The defensive impact was there too. Wilson averaged 2.5 blocks and 1.3 steals per game in Las Vegas, including a five-block performance against Utah. He already brings transition scoring, rim finishing and versatility on defense; now the jumper and handle are starting to catch up.
That doesn’t mean everything was clean. Wilson still averaged 5.3 turnovers per game, a reminder that the added creation load can get messy. The regular season will tell the real story on whether this perimeter growth holds up against NBA length and coverages.
Still, four Summer League games were enough to show real movement in the two biggest skill gaps in his on-ball scoring. Add that to the athletic base and defensive value he already had, and the upside picture looks a lot bigger now.
In Other News...
Caleb Wilson Is Giving Bulls Fans A Reason To Believe
While the 76ers were busy adding pieces that fit around the margins, the Bulls got a different kind of early offseason buzz from rookie Caleb Wilson. His Summer League run gave Chicago something it can always use this time of year, a young player flashing real two-way promise and looking capable of becoming more than just a developmental name on the roster.
Wilson backed up the eye test with strong all-around production across four games, showing scoring punch, rebounding and shot-blocking while also stretching the floor from deep. He also pointed to free throw shooting as an area to clean up, but the bigger takeaway for Bulls fans is simpler: there is already a reason to keep watching him closely. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Just Turned A Draft Night Move Into A Rebuild Debate
The Bulls used the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft to add Caleb Wilson at No. 4 and Dailyn Swain, giving the front office a pair of young players to build around as the rebuild takes shape. But the bigger conversation around Chicagos draft night was not who it picked, but what it chose not to keep after the first round ended.
Both of the Bulls second-round selections were moved for cash considerations, a decision that drew plenty of scrutiny even as executive Bryson Graham defended the approach. In a league where teams like Oklahoma City have treated second-rounders as useful trade chips and roster-building tools, Chicagos decision has only sharpened the debate over how aggressively it should be stockpiling and using draft capital while trying to reset the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Bryson Graham May Have Found The Bulls Shooting Help They Need
Bryson Graham has earned a reputation for spotting players who can slip through the cracks, and that matters for a Bulls roster still looking for useful shooting and scoring help. One name worth watching is Jaylin Sellers, whose offensive profile already fits the kind of swing skill Chicago can use off the bench if he keeps building on the promise he showed in summer league.
Sellers arrived with a scoring rsum from Providence and then flashed enough in Las Vegas to stay on the radar, which is exactly the sort of path that can lead to real minutes for a team willing to mine for value. For the Bulls, the question is whether that production translates into a role this season, because if it does, Graham may have found another overlooked contributor. [Read more 🡒]