The Chicago Bulls hope to see flashes of teenage rookie Noa Essengue's massive potential this season and glimpse his ultimate fit with Matas Buzelis -- a pairing that could define this iteration of the franchise.
Essengue has every physical attribute you could want in a modern forward/wing: He's tall (6-foot-10) and long (7-foot-1 wingspan, 9-foot-2 standing reach). While he's not explosive, he possesses a smooth and graceful athleticism that pairs perfectly with his size. He's incredibly raw -- he was the youngest player in the 2025 draft -- but has some traits that should translate to the NBA on day one.
The 18-year-old's calling card at this point is his defensive potential. Between his length and movement skills, he should be an effective defender immediately, even if he's not an impact player on that end immediately. Minus his skinny frame, he has the natural gifts to hang at the pro level while he develops the rest of his game.
The swing skill for Essengue, like it is for many young wings, is his shooting. He can run like a gazelle, has decent handles and can finish at the rim, all of which make him an ideal fit in the Bulls' transition-heavy scheme. His playing time this season will hinge on what else he can bring to the floor.
Chicago Bulls will hope Noa Essengue follows the Matas Buzelis blueprint
Buzelis was the No. 11 pick in the 2024 draft, and though he wasn't as raw as Essengue is, he wasn't impactful enough with the G League Ignite to prove he was a no-doubt prospect. His physical traits -- 6-foot-10, explosive, skilled with the basketball -- were his calling cards heading into that draft. As it turns out, the Bulls made the right call bringing him to Chicago.
After a slow start, the 20-year-old came on during the second half of last season, eventually earning head coach Billy Donovan's trust and starting his team's final 31 contests. He averaged 13.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists during that span and passed the eye test; he showed an obvious feel for the game, some shot creation off the dribble, flashes of playmaking ability, and spot-up shooting potential.
The Bulls surely hope Essengue follows a similar path. As the youngest and one of the most inexperienced players in this rookie class, he has a long way to go before becoming a steady contributor. But he has the tools to do what Donovan wants -- he can use his length and instincts to contribute and cause havoc defensively and his athleticism to keep up in transition and finish plays. He's capable enough to do that in short bursts and give opposing teams diverse looks to gameplan against.
It's not fair to expect Essengue to contribute out of the gate like a typical lottery pick might. He's more of a high-risk, high-reward prospect who will need time and patience, but he also has a unique skill set that should earn him some kind of role before the end of his rookie campaign.