The Chicago Bulls aren't a very good team right now. They've lost three of their first four games, with two of their losses coming by at least 35 points. As such, it's difficult to speak with too much optimism about their future. Thankfully, Caleb Wilson is grounding pessimism in an optimistic reality.
Wilson hasn't been perfect, but through four games, it's become quite clear that he has the tools to develop into a transformative talent who makes the Bulls' long-awaited resurgence a reality.
Upside and realized potential are two very different things, and Wilson's future won't be decided exclusively by what he's capable of. What he's shown at summer league, during the preseason, and now through Chicago's first four regular season games, however, are a skill set and mentality that give him a believable path to stardom.
With a clear commitment to defending with effort and intensity, and a blossoming isolation scoring package, Wilson is making the Bulls' tough start bearable.
The rookie currently leads Chicago in scoring at 21.0 points per game. He's struggled with his efficiency, but that's to be expected of a first-year player. What's proven to be above and beyond is how willing Wilson is to take on the type of challenges that franchise players must be willing to shoulder.
The early return on the Bulls' investment has been a player who's not only willing to take difficult shots, but compete on defense and give his team hope when there otherwise is none.
Caleb Wilson continues to show signs of franchise player potential
Wilson shot just 7-of-21 during his NBA debut against the Toronto Raptors. It was an understandable display considering he was attempting to score against the likes of Scottie Barnes, Kawhi Leonard, and Collin Murray-Boyles—top-tier defenders on an elite defensive team.
In the three games since, however, he's averaged 22.7 points on 45.3 percent shooting from the field. He's showcased legitimate three-level scoring ability against high-level players.
That started with Wilson scoring 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting in a 132-125 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. It continued with a 30-point and 14-rebound eruption against the Washington Wizards—during which he was matched up against everyone from Anthony Davis and Alex Sarr to Justin Champagnie and Kyshawn George.
Wilson capped his first four games off by scoring 17 points on 7-of-15 shooting against Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics.
Caleb Wilson is competing on both ends of the floor
In addition to scoring with a fairly assertive mentality, Wilson is flying all over the court on defense. Through four games, he has seven steals and six blocks—putting him in the top 20 in the NBA in stocks per game.
Wilson also ranks No. 6 in the NBA in shot contests and No. 19 in deflections. In short: His energy and effort on defense have been invigorating.
Yes, Wilson will need time to refine his positioning, on-ball proficiency, and screen navigation as a defender. He'll also need to improve his shot selection and stabilize his jump shot on offense. What he's showing, however, is a willingness to be involved on both ends of the floor and a fearlessness as a scorer that's already translating to impressive numbers.
The Bulls may need an influx of talent at virtually every position, but if Wilson's early showings are a sign of things to come, they finally have a true two-way player to build their team around.
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