Chicago's young guard had a successful procedure on his right wrist, according to Bulls PR.
With the 2025-26 season officially in the books for the Chicago Bulls, the upcoming summer window provides an excellent opportunity for the players to rest, recover from ailments and work on developing their games.
It's also a time when the media and fans find out what's been going on behind the scenes. Surprising surgery announcements can often reveal that a player was battling through something that may have bothered them, but wasn't risky enough to miss games for.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Bulls revealed that second-year guard Rob Dillingham had undergone a minor surgery to remove a ganglion cyst from his right wrist. While the press release noted that further updates would be provided, the team said the procedure was "successful."
According to the National Institute of Health, ganglion cysts are commonly found on the hand and wrist, and can cause pain, tenderness or weakness.
Dillingham, 21, appeared in all 30 games for Chicago after switching teams at the NBA trade deadline. He averaged career-highs across the board with 9.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 0.9 steals in 21.5 minutes per game.
The Bulls acquired Dillingham on Feb. 5, 2026, in the Ayo Dosunmu trade. Chicago also received Leonard Miller and four second-round draft picks from Minnesota.
Apr 9, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Rob Dillingham (7) shoots the ball as Washington Wizards forward Julian Reese (15) defends in the second half at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn ImagesDillingham was the SEC Sixth Man of the Year during his lone season at Kentucky before the Timberwolves selected him with the No. 8 overall pick in 2024. He played sparingly for a Minnesota team that was contending for an NBA title, logging just 10 minutes per game through his first season-and-a-half.
Midway through his second year in the NBA, the Wolves shipped Dillingham to Chicago. He used his new playing time with the Bulls to find a rhythm and improved significantly as the season went on.
Over his final 17 games this spring, Dillingham scored in double figures 11 times. He scored a career-high 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting against Cleveland on Mar. 19, then exceeded that mark with a 26-point outing (9-of-15 shooting) at Washington on Apr. 7.
As the Bulls enter a rebuild, the 21-year-old Dillingham will have every opportunity to prove he's a part of the team's long-term future. Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey appear to be cemented as franchise cornerstones, but the 2026-27 season will effectively be a tryout for Dillingham, Miller (22 years old) and Noa Essengue (19 years old).
Chicago also projects to have two incoming first-round rookies on its roster, which will likely challenge Dillingham for minutes.