Caleb Wilson didn’t sugarcoat anything after the Bulls got blown out by the Celtics.
Chicago lost by 35, dropped to 1-5, and Wilson made it clear he wasn’t interested in treating that kind of night like business as usual.
“I’ve never been a loser," Wilson said. "I’m not ever going to be accepting of losing.
It’s my job to be a leader on this team. It’s probably the majority my fault we started the way we did, whether I’m a young player or not.
I’ll take ownership of that and it won’t happen again.”
That kind of response fits the way Wilson has started his NBA career. Through the early stretch with the Bulls, the former UNC star is averaging 21.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. He’s shooting 41.7% from the field, 29.8% from 3 and 69.7% at the foul line.
Wilson arrived in Chicago with a reputation for being a dynamic athlete, and he also came into the league with some valuable offseason guidance. Before his rookie year, he trained with LeBron James in the summer and got mental tips from the NBA icon. Both players are represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group.
At North Carolina last season, Wilson played in 24 games and put up 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest. He shot 57.8% overall, 25.9% from deep and 71.3% from the free-throw line. He was also named a second-team Associated Press All-American, which will ensure his jersey is honored in the Smith Center rafters.
Wilson’s college season wasn’t without setbacks. On Feb. 10, he broke a bone in his left hand while trying to block a shot and falling to the floor. Then on March 5, he fractured his right thumb when he hit the rim during a practice drill.
Even with those injuries in the rearview, Wilson is showing early signs that he’s fully healthy now.
There’s also a familiar Bulls connection hanging over the story. Chicago drafted UNC legend Michael Jordan third overall in 1984, and Jordan’s resume with the franchise still towers over everything: five MVPs, six championships, six Finals MVPs, 10 scoring titles and one Defensive Player of the Year award. He’s first in NBA history in points per game in the regular season and playoffs, owns the record for most points in a playoff game with 63, and went 6-0 in the Finals while leading two separate three-peats in Chicago.
For Wilson, that’s a pretty wild path to follow.
And with LeBron now back in the East this season with the Philadelphia 76ers, Wilson will get a few chances to face the player he trained with before his rookie year. LeBron sits first all-time in points, field goals, games and minutes, and he’s the only player to rank top five in both points and assists, win three Finals MVPs with three teams, reach 40,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 career assists, and score 50,000 combined regular-season and playoff points.
The Bulls haven’t reached the playoffs since 2022, and they look likely to miss again this season. But with Wilson already producing and speaking like a leader, Chicago at least has a young player to build around.
In Other News...
UNC Just Landed An In-State QB Fans Will Be Watching Closely
North Carolina got an early jump on its 2028 class with the commitment of four-star quarterback Levi Kerr, a highly regarded in-state prospect from Marvin Ridge High School. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound signal-caller becomes the first player to join the Tar Heels next wave of recruits, giving the program an early foundation at the most important position on the field.
Kerr had drawn interest from multiple major programs, but UNC made a strong enough impression during two visits to land his pledge. For a staff trying to build momentum on the trail, securing one of the top quarterbacks in his class this early is a notable start, even if the bigger question now is how the Tar Heels keep building around him. [Read more 🡒]
Belichick Just Highlighted UNCs Toughest Roster-Building Problem
Bill Belichick used a recent press conference to put a spotlight on one of the biggest challenges facing North Carolina as it tries to build and manage a roster in the new era of college football. The Carolina coach drew a clear contrast between the NFLs contract structure and college footballs revenue-sharing setup, pointing to the difference in how each system is organized and explained.
Belichick said college football still lacks the kind of transparency that comes with the NFLs collective bargaining agreement, and he framed the current setup as something still taking shape. He also noted that pending legislation could bring more changes to the sport, a reminder that roster-building now comes with as much uncertainty off the field as it does on it. [Read more 🡒]
UNCs Offense Showed Up Against No. 1 But One Problem Loomed
For a team that needed its offense to answer a heavyweight, North Carolina got exactly that in a 38-35 loss to No. 1 Miami. Jelani Thurman and Billy Edwards, Jr. helped keep the Tar Heels in striking distance, and Bobby Petrinos offensive plan gave UNC enough rhythm and punch to make the game feel winnable deep into the night.
The problem was on the other side of the ball, where Miami kept finding the answers when it mattered most. The Hurricanes turned key third- and fourth-down chances into the kind of drives that separate a close game from a comeback, leaving North Carolina with more proof that its offense can travel against elite competition, but also a reminder that the defense still has to hold up its end. [Read more 🡒]