Just five years ago, the Chicago Bulls stunned the basketball world by selecting Patrick Williams fourth overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. The front office envisioned him as a two-way forward with the abilities capable of leading Chicago back to playoff contention after an abysmal 22-43 season. NBA Draft experts compared him to players like OG Anunoby, Paul Millsap, and even Kawhi Leonard.
The hype was real. Williams entered the league as one of the youngest prospects in his class, a 19-year-old forward out of Florida State described as “an explosive, freakish combo forward with intriguing upside.” His combination of length, athleticism, elite defensive instincts, and raw offensive potential sent him skyrocketing up draft boards in the final days leading up to draft night.
That hype carried over to Chicago’s front office, in which Patrick Williams became the first official selection under new front office leaders, Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley. Karnisovas praised Williams in his post-draft interview, explaining the selection as “a physical specimen… defensive versatility is what we liked, long arms, big hands, such upside and potential. This is what the NBA is today. He can play one through five.”
Over his first four seasons, Williams has delivered glimpses of that potential. The physical tools are there, and the flashes were visible to the Bulls faithful. But consistency never followed. Now, entering his fifth year, the former “future of the franchise” finds himself fighting for backup minutes at both the small forward and power forward positions.
So, what could have possibly gone wrong?
Confidence and Developmental Issues
The flashes of potential are exactly why Bulls fans haven’t given up hope. They’ve seen what Williams could be as both a defender and as a shooter. However, his young career has been full of unique setbacks, leaving him looking exactly like the player he was as a 19-year-old rookie.
Part of that comes from the circumstances under which he entered the league. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed the 2020 NBA Draft back nearly five months to November, leaving rookies with just one month to get acquainted with their teams before the season tipped off in late December. For one of the youngest players in the draft, that quick change of pace, style, and physicality was even more of a challenge.
Injuries didn’t help either. Williams has missed at least one game as a result of 14 different injuries, including a wrist injury that sidelined him for five months and a foot injury that kept him out for eight. That kind of stop-and-go development can definitely restrict any young player’s growth.
But even when healthy, Williams’ biggest obstacle has clearly been confidence. Coaches have repeatedly urged him to be more aggressive, yet his usage rate and decision-making remain poor. Too often, he hesitates and defers instead of attacking or shooting. And if you ask me, it’s hard to develop when neither the player nor the coaching staff seems to have the confidence to impact games fully.
Current standing and future possibilities
Today, Williams finds himself in an uncomfortable spot. Young wings like Matas Buzelis, Isaac Okoro, Julian Phillips, and Dalen Terry have all since joined the roster and have to compete for minutes. Other than Matas Buzelis, Patrick clearly has more talent, but the three other players have something that Williams does not—confidence and aggression.
Add in the $90 million extension he signed last offseason, and the pressure to finally deliver has only increased.
For fans, it’s frustrating. How does the highest-drafted Bulls player since Derrick Rose continue to struggle to carve out a consistent role five years in to his career?
The 2025-26 season will be telling. On one hand, Williams could embrace his defensive and three-point shooting abilities and become a high-level role player. On the other hand, if the passivity and hesitation continue, he risks falling further out of the rotation.
As it stands today, Patrick Williams’ career is defined by potential and questions. Chicago drafted him as a raw prospect they believed could grow into their forward of the future, a narrative that remains unfulfilled. Will he finally be able to unlock the confidence and consistency to justify his pre-draft hype, or will his Bulls tenure end as one of the franchise’s most interesting “what ifs”?