Bulls' Caleb Wilson Set To Write a New Chapter in Rivalry vs. Cam Boozer

The Chicago Bulls selected North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. The player selected directly ahead of him, Cameron Boozer, is a former Duke Blue Devils star and the son of former Chicago Bulls PF Carlos Boozer. There was obviously a lot of smoke connecting Boozer to Chicago, but it was clear throughout the draft cycle that he was trending more towards the No. 1 spot than the No. 4 spot where Wilson was drafted. Wilson has played both with and against Boozer throughout his career, and it feels like they are trending towards being an intriguing pair of rivals despite being in the Eastern and Western Conference respectively.

Wilson has already discussed keeping a mental note of the players drafted ahead of him in AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer.

Unlike many players in his situation, Wilson has the ability to say he fared well against all three of the players drafted ahead of him, picking up a win against two of the three (Kansas and Duke).

While he doesn't necessarily need more motivation than an NBA career itself, being able to face-off against these names again in summer league should surely light a fire under Wilson.

Wilson has seen a host of media members--including Golden State Warriors forward and podcaster Draymond--refer to Kevin Garnett as a likely outcome for Wilson should he hit his ceiling (or floor in Green's extremely optimistic case). Besides his length, athleticism and midrange game, Wilson's intensity and love of competition is what draws those KG comparisons.

With all of that being said, July 10th will provide a great look at what to expect from Wilson going forward as he prepares to write another chapter in his rivalry vs. Cameron Boozer.

Wilson and Boozer have a natural, built-in rivalry that started with their commitments to Duke and North Carolina respectively.

Going back before their college commitments, the pair won a Peach Jam title together on the AAU circuit with the Nightrydas (FL) team. Wilson finished 1st Team All-Circuit. He put up 17.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game to receive that honor. Boozer and Wilson went on to the McDonald's All-American Game in 2025, where Wilson struggled (0-4 FG, 3 PTs) in a win. Boozer scored 16 points on 6-12 FG in 23 minutes. 

We wouldn't see Wilson and Boozer face-off again until the first UNC-Duke matchup.

On February 7th, 2026, Wilson dominated to the tune of 23 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, a block and no turnovers. Boozer put up an impressive 24-point, 11-rebound double-double with 4 assists. In the end, the Tar Heels got the win and Wilson showcased his ability to rise to the occasion in big moments. 

Wilson had his college career cut short after he suffered a broken right thumb during a non-contact drill. The Tar Heels lost the rematch with Duke without Wilson, and they  struggled to close out the season strong. Ultimately, North Carolina lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to VCU, giving up the largest comeback in the history of the first round (19 points). 

It's impossible to know, but easy to assume that North Carolina would've had a much better chance of beating Duke twice and advancing deep into the NCAA Tournament if Wilson was healthy. 

July 10th will represent the next chance for Wilson to add a chapter to his rivalry versus Cameron Boozer. Wilson has the last win in their head-to-head matchup, but Boozer has undeniably had more individual success. Boozer is currently averaging 16.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.0 APG and shooting 62.5% from the 3-pt line over two summer league games.

Bulls-Grizzlies on July 10th will represent the latest opportunity for Wilson to beat Boozer in a head-to-head matchup and further prove that he should've been drafted higher than No. 4 overall. 

Caleb Wilson and the Bulls take on Cameron Boozer and the Grizzlies on July 10th at 7:00 PM CT at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. The game will be broadcast on Prime Video. Regional viewers in Chicago can watch a tape-delayed broadcast later that evening (at 10:00 PM CT) on the Chicago Sports Network (CHSN).