Caleb Wilson Joins Michael Jordan in Chicago Bulls' Rookie History

No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson has gotten off to a hot start in his Chicago Bulls career, putting him in an exclusive two-man club with His Airness.

Wilson is one of two Bulls rookies in franchise history to score at least 100 points in the first five games of their NBA career. The only other player to do so is none other than Michael Jordan, who totaled 116 points in the first five games of the 1984 season. Wilson trails slightly with 104 points.

Jordan was the No. 3 overall pick in the 1984 NBA Draft out of North Carolina. He went on to post one of the most prolific rookie seasons in league history, averaging 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 2.4 steals per game before winning the NBA's Rookie of the Year award. Jordan scored 37 points and had six steals in just his third professional game.

Although Wilson hasn't matched Jordan's ludicrous start to an NBA career, his numbers are exceeded only by Jordan. Wilson — also a former Tar Heel — increased his scoring in each of his first three games, from 16 to 21 points, then to 30.

That 30-point game came against the Wizards on Saturday, Oct. 24. After surrendering a halftime lead and falling down by 21, the Bulls appeared to have squandered a chance at a win in its home opener. Wilson nearly single-handedly led Chicago back, scoring 11 points in the fourth while also putting up 14 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Although the Bulls ultimately lost by four, the effort showed just how talented the 20-year-old rookie is.

Since then, Wilson has posted solid performances against the Celtics and the Knicks. He finished with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal in Boston on Monday, then hit three three-pointers and totaled 20 points, six rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block in Wednesday's loss to New York.

Wilson is averaging 20.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.8 steals and 1.4 blocks per game this season. That scoring average alone trails only Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg (22.6 points per game) and Kings guard Darius Acuff Jr. (21.5 points) among current NBA rookies. Chicago's second-leading rookie scorer entering the year was Elton Brand, who averaged 20.1 points per game in 1999-00.

The fact that Wilson and Jordan are the only two Bulls rookies to reach the 100-point mark through five games doesn't necessarily mean that Wilson will be as great as the five-time MVP, 14-time All-Star and six-time champion. Jordan had the ball in his hands a lot as the primary offensive engine, and while Wilson's scoring is promising, that's not the main focus for the athletic, young forward.

Time will tell if Wilson can keep up his current offensive pace, but the No. 4 overall pick has certainly played well enough to get Bulls fans excited about the future.