Caleb Wilson has begun ramping up his preparation for the Bulls' opener next month.
Bulls rookie forward Caleb Wilson put on a show during the NBA's 2026 Summer League in Las Vegas, earning All-Summer League First Team honors and showing the talents that made him the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The former North Carolina Tar Heels star has been busy hitting the workout circuit this offseason with high profile players including teammate Matas Buzelis and, most recently, NBA all-time leading scorer LeBron James.
A photo surfaced of Wilson and James' special morning workout as fans got excited seeing the Bulls rookie next to one of the NBA's all-time greats.
Sep 3, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson, left, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, center, and Cole Bennett, right, cheer on the Chicago Cubs during their game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field. Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images Wilson, James Workout Photo Drops
A workout photo of Wilson and James, both clients of KLUTCH Sports CEO Rich Paul, made the rounds on social media with the high profile duo appearing to have finished their joint workout session at just after 7 a.m.
"Caleb Wilson already in the gym with LeBron James," Sports Illustrated Bulls writer Elias Schuster wrote. "Both Klutch clients. Huge for the rookie heading into Year 1."
Wilson picked a different route from James to the NBA, choosing to play one season in college at North Carolina rather than skipping straight to the professional ranks.
Wilson averaged 19.8 points per game during his freshman season in Chapel Hill and shot 57.8% from the field while grabbing 9.4 rebounds per game, dishing out 2.7 assists per game, snatching 1.5 steals and blocking 1.4 shots per game.
The Bulls rookie doesn't have the same bulk as James but he makes up for it with length, timing, anticipation, grittiness, and a diverse skill set that includes drives to the basket, spot-up shooting and an uncanny ability to score on the fast break.
What James Can Teach Wilson
Wilson reportedly has been shooting between 2,000 and 2,500 three-pointers per day this offseason in hopes of improving his 26% mark from distance during his freshman campaign in college.
James was in a similar boat after leaving St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. James' three-point shot was a weak point of his game as an NBA rookie as he shot just 29% from deep during his first year with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The man known as 'King James' went to work in the gym, improving to 35.1% in his second NBA season. James continued to add to his shot-making repertoire throughout his NBA career, transforming from a pass-first point forward to a dominant scorer equally adept at driving, getting his own shot from deep off the dribble, and spotting up for open threes.
Wilson's career could have a similar trajectory, if he continues to work and builds his body, and his game, through repetition and new experiences the way he has this offseason. Wilson's work ethic is already becoming the stuff of legends, and soon it will be time for him to show it off on the court at the United Center with the eyes of the Windy City and much of the NBA watching him.
