Former UNC Star Caleb Wilson Named 99th-Best NBA Player Entering Year 1

Bleacher Report believes former UNC star and Chicago Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson is the 99th-best player in the NBA heading into the 2026-27 season. 

Wilson is one spot behind Toronto Raptors forward and former Duke star RJ Barrett. 

A dynamic athlete, Wilson received mental tips from NBA legend LeBron James ahead of his rookie season with the Bulls. Wilson trained with LeBron in the summer. Both players are with Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group.

Wilson appeared in 24 games for UNC last season. He averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest while shooting 57.8% from the field, 25.9% from beyond the arc and 71.3% from the free-throw line. 

Wilson was named a second-team Associated Press All-American, a distinction that will ensure he is included among the honored jerseys in the Smith Center rafters.

On Feb. 10, Wilson broke a bone in his left hand when he attempted to block a shot and fell to the ground. Then, on March 5, Wilson fractured his right thumb when he struck the rim during a practice drill.

Wilson, though, is healthy ahead of his rookie NBA season with the Bulls. 

The Bulls, of course, drafted UNC legend Michael Jordan with the third overall pick in the 1984 draft. Jordan is universally recognized as the greatest basketball player of all time. He won five MVPs, six championships, six Finals MVPs, 10 scoring titles and one Defensive Player of the Year with Chicago.

Jordan is first in NBA history in points per game in the regular season and playoffs. He holds the NBA record for most points (63) scored in a playoff game. Jordan went 6-0 in the NBA Finals and three-peated twice with the Bulls in the ’90s.

It will be rather cool to see Wilson follow in Jordan's footsteps by playing for the Bulls. And LeBron is back in the East this season, playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, so we will see Wilson and LeBron play against each other a few times. 

LeBron is first in NBA history in points, field goals, games and minutes. He’s the only player to rank top five all-time in points and assists, the only player to win three Finals MVPs with three teams, the only player with 40,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 career assists and the only player to score 50,000 points combining the regular season and playoffs.

The Bulls haven't made the playoffs since 2022. They will likely miss the playoffs this season, but at least they have a young stud in Wilson to build around.