Colin Wilson’s Learning Experience
Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson faced challenges in his preseason debut against the Milwaukee Bucks. His eagerness led to repeated fouls and turnovers, highlighted by blown whistles. He stepped on an opponent’s foot, went out of bounds, and committed a foul while driving to the basket. These incidents underscore Wilson’s steep learning curve as he adapts to professional basketball. Despite these challenges, Wilson displayed skill at times. He nailed a three-pointer before halftime and delivered a powerful dunk in the third quarter. Ultimately, he scored 10 points, grabbed four rebounds, and provided three assists, albeit with a poor shooting performance from beyond the arc. These experiences present a valuable learning opportunity for the fourth overall draft pick.
Testing the Depth
In the preseason game on October 14, 2026, the Bucks opted to rest their main starters, including Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner, and Tyler Herro. This gave younger players like Ousmane Dieng and Brayden Burries a chance to shine. However, the game was plagued by turnovers, with 15 committed in the first quarter alone. The Bucks struggled, shooting below 25% from three-point range, and only managed 39 points in the first half. The Bulls, facing some line-up shortages themselves, had four of their regular starters on the court. Jaylin Sellers stood out with 10 points, while Dailyn Swain scored four points in limited action.
Shuffling the Frontcourt
Bulls coach Tiago Splitter aimed to test regular season rotations but was hindered by forward injuries, including Isaac Okoro and Tobe Awaka, alongside centers Zach Collins and Nic Claxton. Jalen Smith took over at center, supported by Noa Essengue and Leonard Miller. Smith impressed by converting three out of five attempts from deep, while Miller exploited mismatches, scoring 18 points. This temporary arrangement may persist until the return of Claxton and Collins.
Giddey’s Shooting Concerns
Josh Giddey, the Bulls’ point guard, has shown reluctance to take shots during the preseason. In the recent game, he refrained from shooting in the first half, preferring to pass rather than drive to the basket. Giddey ended the game with six points on four attempts but contributed nine assists in 22 minutes. This pattern, contrasting with his previous season’s average of 17 points from 13.3 attempts, raises questions about his approach for the upcoming season. With changes to the lineup, including Caleb Wilson and Norman Powell, Giddey’s role may shift. The Bulls will need assertive offensive contributions from young talents like Wilson to offset this change.