Caleb Wilson Lands at No. 3 on NBA's First Kia Rookie Ladder

Caleb Wilson is wasting little time making his presence felt in the NBA. The Chicago Bulls forward has landed at No. 3 in the first Kia Rookie Ladder of the 2026-27 season, placing himself among the league's leading first-year players after an impressive opening stretch.

NBA.com's ranking, published October 28, puts Wilson behind Memphis Grizzlies forward Cameron Boozer at No. 1 and Golden State Warriors forward Yaxel Lendeborg at No. 2.

For the Bulls, Wilson's position is an encouraging early return on the No. 4 overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft. Through his first four regular-season appearances, he was averaging 21.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He was also one of just three rookies averaging at least 20 points, alongside Lendeborg and Acuff.

Wilson's most eye-catching performance came against the Washington Wizards on October 24. Despite Chicago falling short, the rookie delivered 30 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. It was his first career 30-point game and double-double, putting him among the small group of rookies to reach the 30-point mark this season.

The performance demonstrated the offensive responsibility Wilson has already taken on in Chicago. His ability to contribute on the glass and defensively has also helped distinguish his early production from a purely scoring-based profile.

The competition at the top of the ladder, however, is considerable.

Boozer currently holds the No. 1 position after averaging 14.8 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists through the Grizzlies' opening four games. Memphis has started the season 4-0, with Boozer recording 25 points, 13 rebounds and six assists in a victory over Golden State. That performance made him the third-youngest player in NBA history to record at least 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, joining LeBron James and Cooper Flagg.

Lendeborg occupies second place and leads all rookies in scoring at 21.8 points per game. The Warriors forward also averages 9.3 rebounds and 4.8 assists, having recently recorded 31 points, 12 rebounds and six assists against Denver.

Wilson's 21.0-point average places him just behind Lendeborg and Acuff in rookie scoring, but his 7.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals add important dimensions to his statistical profile. His position ahead of Acuff on the ladder also reinforces that the ranking is not simply a points-per-game leaderboard.

Wilson has continued to produce since the ladder was published. He added 20 points, six rebounds and four assists against the New York Knicks on October 28. Through his first five NBA games, he had accumulated 104 points, which is the second-highest total by a Bulls rookie in their first five appearances, behind only Michael Jordan's 116.

It is important to keep the ranking in perspective. NBA.com's Kia Rookie Ladder is updated weekly, with placements based on season production, recent performances and player availability. The decisions belong to the individual writer and do not represent an official NBA award vote.

There is still a long way to go in the Rookie of the Year race, and the opening week is far too small a sample to establish where this class will ultimately stand. But Wilson's third-place position is a meaningful early indication of how quickly his production has translated to the professional level.

For Chicago, having a rookie already competing near the top of the league's early rankings is an encouraging development. Wilson has made an immediate statistical impact, and his opening performances have given the Bulls another significant reason for optimism as the season progresses.