Caleb Wilson got a lofty comparison ahead of Chicago's Oct. 7 preseason opener
The Chicago Bulls have been in a seemingly perpetual rebuilding mode since Derrick Rose's torn left ACL in April 2012, but there is a feeling in the air that their current core has more staying power than at any time in recent memory.
The biggest reason for optimism is No. 4 overall draft pick Caleb Wilson of North Carolina, who has created enormous expectations for himself based on his short Summer League stint.
Earlier this week, podcaster Sam Vecenie spoke about Caleb Wilson expectations, revealing some of the highest of any media pundit this offseason.
He compared Wilson to a two-time league MVP while revealing where he believes the Bulls rookie ranks among his peers headed into the 2026-27 season.
Feb 7, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) reacts in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Excitement Builds for Wilson's Debut
Host of 'The Game Theory Podcast' Sam Vecenie said he is most excited to see Wilson out of all of the NBA's rookies headed into the 2026-27 exhibition season.
"The rookie I am most excited to see this season is Caleb Wilson. And it's not because I think he's gonna be the best rookie in the league. I think he's gonna be the most fun rookie in the league. Playing with Josh Giddey who's an awesome up-tempo, constantly looking to push tempo point guard, is going to be a great fit with Caleb Wilson."
Vecenie believes Wilson has the right mentality to help the Bulls this season.
"And oh by the way Caleb Wilson, I can't emphasis this enough, that dude is a dog, and I think that going forth, we saw it in Summer League, I mentioned this when we did our Summer League preview...I thought he was going to come out and try to destroy Cam Boozer, and what did he do he came out and dropped like 35 points in that first Summer League game."
Wilson Compared to Heat's Antetokounmpo
Vecenie called Wilson's talents comparable to Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Miami Heat, a two-time league MVP.
"He rebounds, he's a monster in transition, UNC basically played him as, like, mini Giannis. The biggest swing skill in this draft class to me is probably Caleb Wilson's shooting. If Caleb Wilson becomes a guy that is a legitimate, 'I can go and pull up and knock down shots from three,' at even like a 35% clip, I think there's a good chance he's the best player in the class. If he's not that, I think it becomes way more complicated for him."
Wilson revealed that he has been shooting between 2,000 and 2,500 three-pointers per day in preparation for his rookie season. He made an average of 0.3 out of 1.1 attempts during his freshman year with the Tar Heels, setting the stage for what could be a dramatic improvement in the NBA.
Bulls fans are waiting for bated breath for the season to start, and Wilson's promising talents are a big reason why. If Wilson can make an average of even one three-pointer per game, his ceiling as an NBA player could rise dramatically within the first 82 games of his career and beyond.
