Bulls' Caleb Wilson Earns Praise from Raptors Star Scottie Barnes

Caleb Wilson's NBA career got off to a rocky start in the Bulls' season opener. The rookie No. 4 overall pick scored 16 points, grabbed four rebounds and earned three steals, but he also shot just 7-of-21 from the field and turned the ball over nine times. Above all, the game was a learning experience for the former North Carolina Tar Heel, as most of his rookie year likely will be.

Wilson's struggles should be taken with a grain of salt, though, considering the Toronto Raptors are expected to be one of the league's best defenses. Last season, Toronto forced the fourth-most turnovers and had the fifth-best defensive rating in the NBA. That was before the Raptors traded for two-time Defensive Player of the Year Kawhi Leonard, who logged four steals in the season opener.

Between Leonard and forward Scottie Barnes, the Raptors were able to pressure Wilson into crowds and force him to make poor decisions as Toronto defeated Chicago, 135-92.

Barnes, in particular, is a player that Wilson could look to emulate. The 25-year-old All-Star has developed into one of the best two-way wings in the league since Toronto drafted him No. 4 overall in 2021, and Barnes has great switchability as a defender.

During Wednesday's game, Wilson had the chance to speak with Barnes and receive advice from the All-Defensive Second Teamer.

"He's really good, really talented, and I think he has all the qualities to be really great in this league," Barnes told reporters on Thursday. "With his athleticism — his length — he's able to get his shots off. I gave him a little bit of advice, just hope he takes it."

While Barnes declined to share the exact advice he gave to the rookie, he did reveal that Wilson paid attention to his playstyle while in Chapel Hill last season.

"He told me at the free throw line one possession that he kind of looked at my game when he was a freshman in college," Barnes said. "I appreciate that. He plays super hard, and I think it's just going to make it easy for him when he comes to the league. Just play super hard, and I think everything is just gonna go well for him. Run in transition. Get rebounds. He's got all the qualities to be great."

Barnes, the 2022 Rookie of the Year, was named to his second All-Star Game and first All-Defensive Team last season. He started 80 games a year ago while averaging 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.5 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. Thanks to Barnes' efforts on both ends of the floor, the Raptors improved from 30-52 to a 46-36 record. Toronto was the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference before falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers in seven games.

The 6-foot-8, 237-pound Raptors forward isn't a direct size comparison to Wilson — who is 6-foot-10 and 216 pounds — but there's a lot that Wilson can learn from Barnes' game. Barnes is an incredibly physical defender and a dominant force in transition. He has carved a niche out of being an on-ball stopper and is someone that opposing teams aim to avoid.

Wilson's Bulls will host Barnes' Raptors on Jan. 17, then Toronto will host the third and final game of the season series on Jan. 19.