Noa Essengue is finally playing meaningful NBA minutes. After appearing in just two games and playing six minutes as a rookie in 2025-26, the Chicago Bulls wing is taking advantage of the team's search for answers by showing signs of promise as a potential resolution to their issues.
Essengue hasn't been perfect, but over the course of eight games, he's worked his way into a productive spot in the rotation and confirmed that the Bulls' 2025 lottery pick can't be written off as wasted just yet.
Essengue, 19, isn't looking great from a season averages perspective. He's shooting just 37.8 percent from the field and 17.6 percent from beyond the arc, which are putrid marks for any player, even if he essentially is a rookie with just two games played before 2026-27.
Essengue has stepped up over the past four games, however, averaging 8.5 points and 5.0 rebounds in just 14.8 minutes per contest.
For what it's worth: Those numbers translate to 20.7 points and 12.2 rebounds per 36 minutes. He's also shot 40.7 percent from the field, which certainly isn't ideal but is still a significant improvement over the 30.0 percent shooting he managed through his first four appearances.
With signs of life from the No. 12 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Bulls can find a silver lining in the fact that their youth movement is beginning to produce more than just Caleb Wilson highlights.
Noa Essengue is finally playing and producing in NBA games
Essengue's success has come against three high-level opponents: The Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers. It started with 10 points and four rebounds in 16 minutes in a loss to Boston and continued with eight points and six boards in 14 minutes during a defeat at the hands of Philadelphia.
Essengue was fairly quiet against New York with six points and three rebounds in 14 minutes, but he bounced back with 10 points and seven boards in 15 minutes in a rematch with Philadelphia.
The production alone would be intriguing enough to evaluate Essengue's growth after a brutal rookie year during which he barely saw the court. What's intriguing about him, however, is that he doesn't seem to have the same level of trepidation that his teammates have shown early in 2026-27.
Essengue has attempted 16.6 field goals per 36 minutes over the past four games, which ranks No. 2 among qualified Bulls after Wilson.
Noa Essengue is one of the few Bulls being assertive on offense
It may seem irrational to celebrate getting shots up if they aren't falling efficiently, but Chicago has appeared afraid to shoot all season. Players are passing up open looks and leaving the burden of taking difficult shots to a rookie.
Essengue doesn't seem to have those same reservations. That alone makes it worth continuing to play and develop him, as passive scoring tendencies won't make Wilson's life any easier.
Essengue's impact is reflected in the fact that the Bulls have been 2.8 points per 100 possessions better with him on the court over the past four games. It can also be seen in him holding Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Maxey to combined 2-of-9 shooting from the field.
Essengue is by no means a lockdown defender at this stage of his career, but the 6'11" forward is using his size to his advantage. That's helped the Bulls allow 3.5 fewer points per 100 possessions when he's been on the court than without him over the past four games.
There are admittedly question marks, with far more uncertainty than known elements of Essengue's game and potential, but his emergence as a productive option is a silver lining for the Bulls.
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