With the NBA preseason a little over a month away, Chicago Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson, who was drafted with the No. 4 pick, is seeing his stock rise.
Four-time NBA champion and Bulls legend Horace Grant is expecting big things from the rookie and has compared him to Bulls legend Derrick Rose.
Horace Grant Believes Caleb Wilson Is One of the Bulls’ Best Draft Picks Since Derrick Rose
During an interview with Action Network, Grant expressed his excitement for Wilson’s upcoming rookie campaign, citing the North Carolina product’s mentality.
“Oh my goodness, man,” Grant said. “What a beast. What a freakin’ beast. He has all the intangibles, the skillset. But what I love about him is that he has the mindset of a killer. A dog. He goes out and gets it.”
He continued, drawing a parallel between Rose and Wilson:
“It’s one of the best draft picks since Derrick Rose. I’m not going to put him with MJ and myself and Pip, but since Derrick Rose, one of the greatest choices the Bulls have made, in my humble opinion.”
Strong praise from Grant, who shared the court with some of the best players in NBA history, including Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, and Penny Hardaway.
Wilson had a strong freshman season with UNC in 2025-26, averaging 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. He also impressed in the NBA Summer League in July, averaging 23.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.5 blocks, and 1.3 steals through four games.
Wilson enjoyed a historic Summer League debut, finishing with 35 points against the Memphis Grizzlies. His solid showing earned him a spot on the 2026 NBA All-Summer League First Team. Grant also chimed in on Wilson’s Summer League performance, saying
“When you showcase yourself like that, especially in the Summer League, it gives us Bulls fans hope that he will be one of those pieces along with Josh (Giddey) and (Matas) Buzelis. There are more pieces that we need, but man, what I saw in Vegas, he’s the real deal.”
The Bulls have made significant changes to the organization this offseason, including new front-office leadership, a new head coach in Tiago Splitter, and significant roster changes. Apart from Wilson, the team also brought in Dailyn Swain with the No. 15 pick.
Chicago was also active in free agency, bringing in Nic Claxton via a multi-team trade and signing Norman Powell to a two-year contract.
After missing the playoffs in four consecutive seasons, expectations are high for the new-look Chicago Bulls. Fans will get their first look at the team on Oct. 7 when the Bulls begin their preseason against the Phoenix Suns.
