Caleb Wilson’s Summer League Dominance Earns him ‘Little Ticket’ Nickname from Kevin Garnett

Caleb Wilson’s first NBA Summer League is nearly in the books, and the former North Carolina star could hardly have made a stronger first impression.

Wilson put together four impressive performances for the Chicago Bulls in Las Vegas, averaging 23.5 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 41.9 percent from three-point range. He also averaged more than seven rebounds per game, showing off the versatility and athleticism that made him the No. 4 overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft.

It all started with an unforgettable debut.

Playing his first public game since suffering a hand injury during his lone season at North Carolina, Wilson erupted for 35 points against the Memphis Grizzlies. He connected on 12-of-21 field-goal attempts and, perhaps most impressively, buried seven of his 11 three-point attempts. Wilson also added five rebounds, three blocks and two steals.

Wilson didn't match that scoring explosion again, but that hardly means he slowed down.

He scored 19 points in each of his next two outings before finishing his Summer League run with 21 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. Across his first three games alone, Wilson averaged 24.3 points, seven rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game, providing plenty of evidence that his impact extends well beyond simply putting the ball in the basket.

Perhaps the most encouraging development was Wilson's perimeter shooting. After making just seven three-pointers during his abbreviated freshman season at North Carolina, Wilson showed significantly more confidence from beyond the arc in Las Vegas. Shooting nearly 42 percent from three over four Summer League games does not guarantee that level of efficiency will immediately carry over to the NBA regular season, but it offered an exciting glimpse at what Wilson could become if his outside shot develops alongside his already impressive athletic gifts.

And apparently Tar Heel fans aren't the only ones taking notice.

NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett attended Wilson's game against the Lakers and revealed that he has a nickname for the Bulls rookie: “Little Ticket.” Garnett, of course, was famously known as “The Big Ticket” throughout his legendary NBA career.

That's quite the endorsement.

Wilson has previously pushed back on direct comparisons to Garnett, saying around the NBA Draft that comparing him to a Hall of Famer would be disrespectful to Garnett, although he acknowledged similarities in their mentality and approach to the game. Now, the comparison is coming directly from KG himself.

Summer League results should always be taken with the appropriate perspective. Wilson still has an enormous amount of development ahead as he prepares for his rookie season in Chicago.

But after four games, one thing is clear: Caleb Wilson looked the part of a top-four draft pick.

And if “Little Ticket” keeps playing anything like this, the nickname Kevin Garnett gave him might just stick.