Caleb Wilson Embraces Leadership Role in Bulls Rebuild

The Bulls opened media day with their rebuild centered on a 20-year-old forward who has no interest in arriving quietly. Caleb Wilson, the No. 4 pick in the draft, said he plans to make his presence felt through his habits rather than speeches as Chicago tries to pull itself out of the Eastern Conference basement.

“There’s no leadership in trying to fit in,” Wilson said. “I’m not going to try to fit in. I’ll go in there and lead with what I do.”

Wilson said teammates are more likely to follow a rookie’s work than his words. That is the approach he intends to carry into camp, where he is beginning NBA conditioning work after an abbreviated college season. The 6-foot-10 forward was viewed as one of the draft’s top athletes and built his reputation on finishing around the basket, but his lone season at North Carolina ended early because of injuries to his left hand and right thumb.

He enters camp healthy, and both first-year executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham and new coach Tiago Splitter have noticed his willingness to absorb instruction. Wilson has been working on adding the strength needed for the nightly physical demands of the league.

A role still to be built

Splitter and Wilson have not settled on a fixed assignment or minute-to-minute job yet. The role is expected to take shape as camp and the season move forward.

Wilson believes Splitter, the 41-year-old Brazilian who spent seven seasons as an NBA player, will give him room to play while being blunt when adjustments are needed. Wilson is keeping his rookie expectations centered on daily work instead of a statistical target.

“I’m focused more on the process than the result,” Wilson said. “You can’t control results if you’re not locked into the process.”

Graham cautioned that the organization understands the volume around Wilson will be high because the rookie is comfortable speaking with confidence. Internally, though, the Bulls see this as a development year and expect uneven stretches.

“He has enormous potential,” Graham said. “Our job is to develop it the right way, give him room when he has highs and lows, and let it grow.”

Chicago adds experienced help around its young core

The Bulls remain under the salary cap and have left themselves room to continue reshaping the roster. They signed veteran guard Norman Powell, an All-Star with Miami last season, to a two-year deal. Chicago also acquired 27-year-old center Nic Claxton and 33-year-old guard Buddy Hield.

Those additions give a younger group more structure as the franchise tries to establish a foundation. Graham said further moves remain possible, depending on what Wilson, 22-year-old forward Matas Buzelis, No. 15 pick Dailyn Swain and No. 12 pick Noa Essengue need to progress while the team also attempts to become more competitive now.

“We got some things done, and there are still other possibilities,” Graham said. “Development is better when the roster around those players is more capable.”

Josh Giddey, entering his sixth season at 23, is back after right ankle surgery and fully cleared. The point guard paced Chicago’s up-tempo attack when available last year, posting career highs in scoring, rebounding and assists.

Giddey stopped short of calling himself a veteran, but he has already seen enough from Wilson to identify the rookie’s defining trait.

“The regular season is a different level when you’re facing NBA players every night,” Giddey said. “But confidence is not something he’s missing.”

Chicago has another Caleb already carrying outsized expectations across town. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, currently sidelined by injury, helped lead Chicago to an unexpected 11-6 record and a division title last season. Wilson now arrives with a similarly direct personality, though the Bulls’ version of the story will be measured in development, defensive improvement and whether a young frontcourt can finally help end the franchise’s postseason absence.