LAS VEGAS – Bryson Graham didn’t need much persuasion when it came to selecting Caleb Wilson in last month’s draft.
The Bulls’ executive vice president of basketball operations concluded by the end of the private workout that Wilson was a special player with an “it” factor. Real star power.
What’s being found out in just the opening weekend of Summer League, however, is Wilson has more than just star power. It feels very rockstar.
Not since Derrick Rose was leading the Bulls has a player with the franchise generated as much hype around him. That means extra security, more media requests, and a buzz throughout Las Vegas about the No. 4 overall pick and his 35-point debut on Friday.
Even the ultra-focused Wilson was feeling it.
“It’s hard not to notice but my goal isn’t to please everyone else, it’s to please myself, so I’m not complacent or feel like I really accomplished anything,” Wilson said after the Sunday afternoon practice. “It’s a Summer League game. Of course I see it, but it doesn’t really affect me or anything.”
Hard to ignore when players like Jalen Brunson and Kevin Durant are walking by in the Wynn Hotel – where most of the league is staying – and letting Wilson know that while it was only a Summer League game, it was still impressive.
“Everyone is staying at this hotel so I’ve talked to a lot of people like Jalen (Brunson), Kevin Durant … them just telling me good job, keep it up,” Wilson said.
If the league sat up and took notice, better believe his new teammates not only took notice but started to build a next-level excitement around the season.
“What was that?” Bulls forward Matas Buzelis said to a reporter right after the Friday display. “Was that real?”
It was.
Even veteran Norman Powell, who was courtside with the likes of Buzelis, Josh Giddey and Jalen Smith for the loss to the Grizzlies took note.
“I’m super excited to get in contact with him and just watching him play, he seemed just so mature and fluid in his game,” Powell said of Wilson. “His first game out, 35 points was awesome, and just seeing how locked in he was down the stretch. Honestly though, just the energy he puts in on both sides of the ball.”
Powell then singled out the one moment that really sent him a message about Wilson’s make-up was the behind-the-back pass that was stolen, but the hustle Wilson showed to chase it back down the court and make a highlight block in which his head appeared to hit the bottom of the backboard as he took flight for the swat.
“Probably a lot of peoples’ favorite play was when he threw the behind-the-back pass, I feel like a lot of guys his age and in Summer League put their head down and give up,” Powell said. “He had the turnover, but for him to sprint back and save a possession right there (with the block) just shows his compete level and where his mind is at, what he can bring to the game.”
A trait that should have the entire organization feeling cautiously optimistic that they finally have a player who has the chance to climb into elite status. They might finally have “that dude.”
He’s shown to be a relentless worker, including admitting that he’s been taking 2,000-2,500 shots every day to continue improving his craft.
That’s good news for those that doubted his seven three pointers against Memphis were an aberration, especially because he made just seven threes in his entire one season with the Tar Heels last year.
“I could shoot in college, but it just wasn’t my role,” Wilson said of his long-range showing. “I’m sure you guys watch college basketball. We ran the Carolina break. Rim-running, just at the top of the key. Nothing wrong with it and I appreciate my coach for letting me do what I did in college. There’s no hard feelings or anything.
“I’m glad I didn’t shoot threes in college because if I did I wouldn’t be here.”
He’s not wrong.
The knock on Wilson was concerns about his ability to shoot from the outside. If he would have shown that skill along with his height and athleticism, no way he slides down to No. 4. That would have been first-overall pick territory, or at least knocking Darryn Peterson out of that No. 2 spot.
And speaking of Peterson, Wilson has his sights set on him Monday night when the Bulls lock horns with Utah and the one-time Kansas standout.
“Fix up what I made mistakes on,” Wilson said of his goals for Game 2. “Turnovers, I had six of them, so just stay away from turnovers and continue what I did. Get to the rim, play smarter, play off two feet, make better decisions.
“I had a couple turnovers that were just stupid. Then I threw a bad pass on the sideline close to our bench. It should have been a bounce pass because the guard was playing heavy in the gap. Just being stronger on my pickups, stronger on my gaps. Of course, teams are going to pay more attention to me, so just be smarter because this is a higher-level game.”
Does that include an encore?
“Actually, winning the game,” Wilson said. “That’s pretty much it.”
