When the NBA calendar flips to late October, one of the league’s most intriguing rookie showdowns is already waiting on the schedule.
Caleb Wilson and AJ Dybantsa are set to see each other early in their first professional seasons, giving fans a quick taste of a top-heavy draft class that also included Darryn Peterson at No. 2 and Cameron Boozer at No. 3. Wilson, taken fourth overall by the Chicago Bulls, has already made noise in pro action after setting a new record for the most points in a Summer League debut.
The first meeting to circle comes on Saturday, October 24, when Chicago hosts the Washington Wizards in the Bulls’ home opener. That game pits Wilson against Dybantsa, the draft’s first overall pick.
Wilson’s regular season starts before that. Chicago opens on Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. on the road against the Toronto Raptors. Dybantsa’s rookie debut comes the same day at 7 p.m., when Washington plays host to the new-look Milwaukee Bucks.
The two already crossed paths in Summer League, where Wilson scored 19 points to lead all scorers in Chicago’s 99-87 win over Washington. Dybantsa did not play in that game. Afterward, Wilson made it clear he wants every opportunity he can get, saying he’ll play any chance he gets, as opposed to resting like his fellow Top-4 picks.
Dybantsa arrives in the NBA after a decorated lone season at BYU, where he was named a Consensus First-Team All-American and Big 12 Freshman of the Year. He also led college basketball with 25.5 points per game before the Cougars faded late, dealing with injuries and then losing their first NCAA Tournament game.
Wilson’s college run was just as loud until an injury shut it down. He was putting up 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, piling up double-doubles and earning First-Team All-ACC and Second Team All-America honors. His season ended after UNC’s 75-66 loss at Miami (FL), and an injury in practice the week before North Carolina’s rematch with Duke kept him from returning.
Both players spent one season dominating the college game. Now they’re headed into the NBA with plenty of eyes on them, and that October matchup gives the league an early chance to see how two of the draft’s biggest names stack up when the games start counting.
In Other News...
UNCs New Big Man Is Finally In Chapel Hill With One Hurdle Left
Sayon Keita is finally in Chapel Hill, giving North Carolina its new big man on campus after the freshman arrived in the state following approval of his visa. He was met at the Raleigh/Durham airport by coaches Michael Malone and Chuck Martin, and has already started getting settled into life at the university as he prepares to join the Tar Heels.
There is still one box left to check before Keita can fully move forward, and it is the one UNC will keep watching closely. For now, the emphasis is on getting him acclimated and ready for the 2026-2027 season, but the final hurdle still hangs over what has otherwise been a welcome arrival for the program. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Hansbrough Admits The NBA Took Something Out Of Him
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Hansbrough spent seven seasons in the NBA before closing his career overseas in China, and he said the change of scenery helped him find that old enjoyment again, away from the noise and criticism that followed him in the league. He still keeps close tabs on UNC and remains a supporter of the program, which makes his reflections land with a familiar mix of honesty and loyalty for Tar Heels fans who remember how hard he played from the moment he arrived in Chapel Hill. [Read more 🡒]
North Carolinas QB Battle Is Turning Into A Real Preseason Concern
Training camp has not brought much clarity for North Carolina at quarterback, and that is becoming a real issue with the opener against TCU getting closer. Billy Edwards and Miles O'Neill have both had uneven stretches, while the staff around them is already stretched thinner than usual with general manager Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave during an investigation and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick on medical leave. Bill Belichick said personnel have had to absorb more responsibilities during camp, which only adds to the pressure on a position battle that still feels unsettled.
The encouraging development, at least from the Tar Heels' perspective, has been the early work of true freshman Travis Burgess, who has made enough of an impression to draw positive internal attention. Even so, North Carolina still needs someone to separate from the pack and give the offense a clearer direction before Week 1, especially after a weekend scrimmage did little to settle the competition. For now, the most important answer in Chapel Hill remains the one that has not arrived yet. [Read more 🡒]