Michael Jordan played for the Chicago Bulls. Will Caleb Wilson be next?
A new 2026 NBA mock draft has Caleb Wilson following in North Carolina Tar Heels legend Michael Jordan's footsteps.
After the Washington Wizards won the 2026 draft lottery, Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report published his new mock draft and the NBA draft analyst has Wilson going to the Chicago Bulls at No. 4.
The Bulls, of course, drafted 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.
"New Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham has a prospect type," Buckley wrote. "He even has an acronym for it, SLAP: Size, Length, Athleticism, Physicality. Would forward tandems get any more SLAP-y than having Wilson alongside Matas Buzelis?
"Those two could be a terror in transition. They might treat the defensive end like they're a living promo for that Everything Everywhere All at Once movie from a few years back. And while you might worry about their individual creation, they could absolutely shine as play-finishers with pass-first (and pass-second) point guard Josh Giddey.
"As for Wilson himself, he pairs explosive athleticism with insatiable energy. He power-dunks everything he can, and when he can't get to the basket, he has soft touch from the mid-range and a silky turnaround jumper. His weaknesses might be the most glaring of the top four prospects, but his ceiling might sit as high as any."
Wilson appeared in 24 games for UNC this 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 that he will be included among the honored jerseys in the Smith Center rafters.
Many draft scouts have compared Wilson to six-time NBA All-Star Jermaine O'Neal. If Wilson can have a career like O'Neal's, that would be a huge success.
The Bulls haven't made the playoffs since 2022. If they land Wilson, Chicago's rebuild will get accelerated.
Tar Heels Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things North Carolina Tar Heels. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.