The undrafted rookie’s tenacious defense and explosive transition scoring have ignited the Summer League team, positioning the Providence standout as a two-way player to watch this upcoming season for Chicago.
The Chicago Bulls elected to forego using their two second-round picks, instead selling both for essentially cash. However, despite not using those selections, Bryson Graham and company were immediately active in the undrafted free agent market, signing Jaylin Sellers out of Providence and Tobe Awaka out of Arizona to two-way contracts.
While Awaka has mostly been a physical presence inside, Sellers has flashed the potential for much more throughout Summer League. The intensity he plays with jumps off the screen almost as loudly as a Caleb Wilson dunk. Sellers picks up opposing guards full-court, slides with them the entire way and constantly disrupts ball handlers and passing lanes.
Mar 11, 2026; New York, NY, USA; Butler Bulldogs forward Michael Ajayi (5) controls the ball against Providence Friars guard Jaylin Sellers (2) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesSellers is a rare breed of player who genuinely gets excited about the defensive side of the ball. He's always clapping, talking and mean-mugging on that end, taking great pride in getting stops and forcing turnovers.
The Bulls have been searching for point-of-attack defenders for the past couple of seasons and Sellers fits that bill exceptionally well. He wants to guard the opposing team's best player, fights through screens instead of switching and never stops working on that end of the floor.
Although his defense has certainly been a highlight, Sellers' offensive game is starting to come together as well. At Providence, he was a fantastic scorer, averaging 18.3 points per game while shooting nearly 43% from three-point range. He was a great shooter both off the catch and off the dribble, with the step-back three serving as one of his biggest offensive weapons. Sellers was also relentless attacking downhill in college, using his strong frame and quickness to bully opposing guards and finish through contact.
Through the first two Summer League games, Sellers only showed flashes of that offensive potential. He scored 15 points on inefficient shooting against the Grizzlies in Game one before adding 13 points, again on inefficient shooting, against the Jazz in Game two. While those are respectable scoring numbers for a Summer League guard, much of his production came in spurts rather than as part of a complete offensive performance.
Mar 4, 2026; Providence, Rhode Island, USA; Providence Friars guard Jaylin Sellers (2) shoots the ball during the first half against the Marquette Golden Eagles at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesAll of that changed in Game 3 against the Washington Wizards, when Sellers erupted for 24 points on an efficient 7-of-12 shooting performance in a blowout victory.
Jaylin Sellers was extraordinary defensively and in transition. He brought the same pitbull energy he's displayed all Summer League on defense, but this time, he turned it into an efficient scoring night. The game was close in the first half, but the Bulls pulled away in the third quarter, in large part because of Sellers' relentless style of play. He forced turnovers, recording three steals that led to easy transition baskets for himself and his teammates. At times, he looked like the fastest player on the court and nobody could catch him. Sellers also knocked down a pair of threes while keeping his teammates involved throughout the game.
Sellers' 24-point outing marks the second-highest scoring game by any Bull this Summer League, trailing only Wilson's 35-point debut. He has outplayed former first-round pick Noa Essengue and 2026 first-round pick Dailyn Swain by a considerable margin this summer. Sellers possesses one of the league's most coveted skill sets with his point-of-attack defense and three-point shooting ability.
He also happens to possess other traits that Bryson Graham and Tiago Splitter value highly: leadership and energy. The Chicago Bulls are trying to build a new culture centered around hard work and tenacity, and Sellers has the mental makeup to help set that tone.
Sellers is currently on a two-way contract, meaning he'll spend time between the Bulls and the Windy City Bulls while being limited to fifty regular season NBA games. Even so, he's already making a compelling case to earn opportunities at the next level. Point-of-attack defense is one of the most valuable and difficult skills to find in today's NBA, and Sellers has shown he can pressure ball handlers, force turnovers and change the pace of a game with his energy alone. If injuries hit the Bulls' backcourt or Chicago simply needs another defensive spark, Sellers has the tools to carve out a role. Add in his improving three-point shot and transition scoring, and it's easy to envision him making an impact whenever his number is called.
Summer League is only the first step, but Sellers has already shown he has a skill set that could translate to meaningful NBA minutes.
