Jun 24, 2026 1:00 PM

Roundtable's Gavin Dorsey was at the Bulls' facility during the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday, in which Chicago selected Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain. Here are his quotes and notes from an eventful night in the Windy City:

Chicago Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham speaks to the media following the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft at the Advocate Center on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (Gavin Dorsey/Roundtable Sports)More Videos

Caleb Wilson does not lack confidence.

At the NBA Draft Combine last month, the North Carolina forward said he was going to change the culture of the franchise that drafted him. Now with the Chicago Bulls, Wilson wasted no time turning heads on Tuesday after hearing his name called by Adam Silver.

The No. 4 overall pick set his sights on Bulls legend Michael Jordan with a remark that's certain to get Chicago fans excited about the 19-year-old's future.

"My work ethic comes from me being hungry," Wilson said in a press conference. "I'm always going to do whatever it takes to get better. I want to be the greatest player of all time. Y'all got one of the GOATs in y'all's history right now, so it's time for another one. I'm hungry to be the greatest; that's me."

Wilson was one of two Bulls selections on Tuesday night, along with No. 15 overall pick Dailyn Swain. The pair of athletic two-way players will look to jumpstart Chicago's rebuild with thrilling dunks and tenacious defense.

Although Wilson's expectations for himself are sky-high, executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham emphasized that the Tar Heel star is still a rookie and will need to develop.

"You want guys with really high confidence," Graham said. "He's obviously a top-five pick, so a lot of expectations come along with that, but I think we have to be careful with tempering some of those expectations, even that he has for his own self. I know he's going to get there, but growth and development is not linear. Although he's going to be a great player — we're going to do everything we can to get him there — we know that his development is going to take time. But that mentality is what we want in this building and we're really excited about him."

Graham Not Worried About Shooting

Wilson and Swain are incredibly talented players, but what they possess in paint scoring skills, they lack in long-range shooting.

Mar 18, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn ImagesMar 18, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) during a practice session ahead of the first round of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Last season at North Carolina, Wilson shot just 25.9% from beyond the arc on 1.1 attempts per game. Similarly, Swain made 34.4% of his looks last year at Texas and is a career 29.3% shooter.

Three-point shooting could very well prove to be one of the Bulls' biggest weaknesses, as expected key contributors Matas Buzelis (34.9%), Isaac Okoro (33.0%), Tre Jones (31.5%), Leonard Miller (35.6%), Rob Dillingham (30.0%) and Patrick Williams (34.7%) all shot below the league average a year ago. However, Graham said he's not worried by the team's apparent lack of shooting and views the profiles of both Wilson and Swain as the more important traits.

"Shooting, obviously, is a skill that can improve," Graham said. "Both players' mechanics are sound. Both shots are compact. I see guys that can develop that... When you check a ton of other boxes — defending, playmaking, advantage creating — and maybe shooting is somewhat of a weakness at the moment, it doesn't deter me from taking you. The mentality, the work rate and a variety of skills is really important."

Wilson Aims to Embrace Chicago, Fans

Shortly after Chicago took him off the board with the No. 4 overall pick, Wilson shared a photo on social media of himself wearing a Bulls hoodie as a kid. He said he attempted to ignore media buzz leading up to the draft so that he didn't get attached to the Bulls if they didn't draft him, but was excited about the possibility of joining the franchise.

"I always wanted to play for a franchise — and luckily, I am — with a great fan base and a historic program," Wilson said. "I want to give my all for those fans that come and support and watch, and just for the history of the game. I'm excited for this opportunity. I can't wait."

Wilson also revealed he has a relationship with former Tar Heel Coby White, who spent seven seasons with the Bulls from 2019 to 2026. White apparently told Wilson that Chicago is a really cultured place and that the fans have high expectations, though Wilson claimed his experience at North Carolina has already prepared him for a similar standard.

Swain Looks to Carve Out Defensive Role

The Texas Longhorn scored at a career-high clip this season, but as a rookie, Swain knows his best chance to make an immediate impact is on the defensive end of the floor.

"I just view myself as a versatile player," Swain said. "I know what I bring from Day 1. I bring defensive versatility, being elite in transition, making the right plays, understanding the game, being a connective player. I see myself doing that from Day 1 and developing into whatever the team needs from me."

Mar 26, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Dailyn Swain (3) drives to the basket against Purdue Boilermakers guard Fletcher Loyer (2) in the second half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the West Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn ImagesMar 26, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Dailyn Swain (3) drives to the basket against Purdue Boilermakers guard Fletcher Loyer (2) in the second half during a Sweet Sixteen game of the West Regional of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

The shooting aspect might take a little longer to come together. Swain admitted that he needs to speed up his jump shot to match the quickness of the NBA, but swore he was committed to working toward that level.

In the meantime, Graham believes Swain's skillset should lend itself nicely to fitting in head coach Tiago Splitter's scheme and earning early action.

"Being a rookie, you've got to earn your keep, and the fastest way to find playing time and opportunity is on the defensive side of the ball," Graham said. "As Dailyn comes in and as Caleb comes in, I'm looking for them to be tone-setters on that side of the floor and be pillars for this organization going forward."

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