The Chicago Bulls introduced Caleb Wilson as their 2026 first-round pick on Friday, and the 19-year-old power forward didn’t hold back. He wants to be remembered long after he’s done playing.
Wilson, taken fourth overall out of North Carolina, told reporters during his introductory press conference that his goal isn’t just to make the NBA. It’s to leave a mark. “I want to be legendary, I wanna be remembered after I finish playing,” he said. “That’s kind of what pushes me every day to be a great player.”
The kid isn’t short on confidence. But he also admitted his work ethic didn’t show up until he was in his early teens. “I wasn’t really a hard worker when I was younger,” Wilson said. “Once I really started to stick with it, I really started to work hard. And I just love the game. I have a lot of fun with it.”
Why Chicago makes sense for Wilson
The Bulls traded for Nic Claxton in a three-team deal with the Nets this week, so Wilson won’t have to carry the frontcourt alone. Claxton, 27, will man the center spot while Wilson steps in as the starting power forward from day one. That’s the plan, anyway.
Wilson played just one season of college ball at North Carolina, but he packed a lot into those 24 games. He averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. He shot nearly 58% from the field, though his three-point percentage (25.9%) is something the Bulls will want to see improve.
He was named a Second-Team All-American. Not bad for a kid who said he didn’t find his drive until he realized he needed to do something with his life.
The Bulls have a roster in transition. They’re not quite contenders, and they’re not quite rebuilding. Drafting a player like Wilson, who wants to be legendary, is a bet on the future. If he pans out, Chicago might finally have a homegrown star worth building around.
Wilson will wear No. 7 for the Bulls. Training camp starts in October.
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