Watching Caleb Wilson play basketball is extremely fun. Though the North Carolina Tar Heels only got him for one season, Wilson delivered the type of impact his program will feel forever.
Wilson quickly proved himself amongst college's elite, earning First Team All-ACC honors while averaging 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. Though two separate injuries cut his time at UNC short, Wilson proved himself enough to be a lottery pick (fourth overall) in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Fast forward to Wednesday night, when Wilson made another splash in his preseason debut. During the Chicago Bulls' 124-117 win over the Phoenix Suns, Wilson scored a Chicago-best 15 points.
Wilson started and made six of his 15 shot attempts, all three free throws, grabbed three rebounds
and dished out two assists across 29 minutes, delivering a balanced, instant impact.
Wilson delivered a loud NBA introduction during his Summer League debut, scoring a record 35 points. When compared to his fellow Top-4 Draft picks in AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cam Boozer, Wilson played plenty more and showcased himself as the most NBA-ready amongst this bunch.
4th overall pick @CalebWilson2025 (team-high 15 PTS) leads Chi-Town to victory in their preseason opener! pic.twitter.com/iJ2SbsrUKt
— NBA (@NBA) October 8, 2026
Caleb Wilson in his Bulls preseason debut:
— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) October 8, 2026
🏀 6-15 FG
🏀 15 PTS
🏀 3 REB
🏀 2 AST
🏀 3-3 FT pic.twitter.com/OWwuTZevq0
North Carolina looked well on its way to a deep NCAA Tournament run with a healthy Wilson, who dunked every chance he could and consistently recorded double-doubles. Add in Wilson's mid-range game and lockdown defense, he's a mismatch nightmare for any opponent.
Now in the Windy City, Wilson looks primed for a massive rookie year alongside a young, talented Bulls squad. Can Wilson prove himself as the next Chicago sports great?
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Caleb Wilson thrives in NBA Preseason debut
