Caleb Wilson doesn’t forget.
Bad news for “Stix.”
Bulls veteran Jalen Smith – “Stix” as his teammates call him – let it be known last week that yes, Wilson has tried to put Smith on a poster in the training camp scrimmages, but it hasn’t ended well for the prized rookie.
“Caleb was the No. 4 pick so he comes in with that mindset,” Smith told reporters when discussing the highly-touted draft selection out of North Carolina. “I feel like that’s what stands out with him because he wants to be great. The way he carries himself everybody can tell. The way he carries himself on the court, the way he attacks everybody. He tried to jump over me a couple times, it didn’t really work out good for him, but you can tell he’s going to be something special in this league.”
The rumor was Smith actually pinned a Wilson dunk attempt on the glass. A rumor that Smith said may or may not have happened.
“I’m not going to say much more about that because I’m not trying to hurt no feelings,” Smith said laughing. “Everybody here knows.”
But here’s the thing about Wilson: Even back in high school he would remember the smallest slights against him by opposing players and wasn’t shy about exacting revenge.
There was one instance when he was talking to a reporter early in his college career and admitted that he felt some other standout freshman in his class froze him out in the McDonald’s High School All-American game.
“I’m just going to keep going out there and killing people,” he said then. “I got the list on my phone and it’s nowhere near done.”
Guess who just got added to the list?
“ ‘Stix’ likes to exaggerate a lot … I would say I have tried to dunk on ‘Stix’ and more often than not there’s a foul,” Wilson said with a smirk. “It will happen.”
What the Bulls really want to see happen with the first preseason game bearing down on them this Wednesday when they host the Phoenix Suns? What the two young foundation pieces of Matas Buzelis and Wilson look like when they play together.
While coach Tiago Splitter wouldn’t tip his hand on a starting five, it’s felt chalky since the summer when the team signed veteran shooter Norman Powell and acquired Nic Claxton in a trade. That means Josh Giddey and Powell in the backcourt and Claxton, Wilson and Buzelis making up the frontcourt.
Splitter has even detailed the versatility of Claxton, Wilson and Buzelis as defenders and how he can use all three in switches and wing defenders.
But it’s no secret that Buzelis and Wilson are the foundation pieces of this rebuild, so their interaction on and off the court is key.
Buzelis’ take on being part of that duo was exactly what the fan base and organization wanted to hear.
“He’s been incredible,” Buzelis said of Wilson. “Of course he’s got a lot to prove, so do I, and I think that’s what makes us dangerous. We want to prove something.
“The one thing about him is he keeps trying to learn. That’s the difference between guys is when they’re trying to learn and grow, especially a guy like him, it’s going to be a problem. I know we can be something special and it’s just a matter of time.”
According to Buzelis, he and Wilson have been teamed together in the scrimmages and have also been put against each other. The best thing they can do to raise their level?
“We can try and kill each other on the court,” Buzelis said.
Careful, Wilson is listening. He’s always listening.
