October 5, 2026 · By Rye · 3 min read
The Bulls have plenty of new faces, but the pairing they may be most eager to see belongs to Matas Buzelis and rookie Caleb Wilson. And Buzelis is not shy about the possibilities.
"He's been incredible," Buzelis said of Wilson, via the Chicago Sun-Times. "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 two have gone at each other, and together, in training camp scrimmages. Head coach Tiago Splitter has not announced a starting lineup, though Buzelis and Wilson could give Chicago a young, athletic frontcourt alongside Nic Claxton.
The rookie is not easing in
Wilson, the No. 4 pick out of North Carolina, has already shown teammates he has no interest in a quiet rookie camp. Veteran Jalen Smith said Wilson has tried a few times to dunk over him. Smith hinted that at least one attempt ended with a block.
Wilson's version: Smith exaggerates, and there was probably a foul. "It will happen," Wilson said with a smirk.
Buzelis likes Wilson's willingness to learn just as much as his willingness to attack the rim. He believes the two can become "something special," though he is not proposing they take it easy on each other in practice.
"We can try and kill each other on the court," Buzelis said.
First look Wednesday
The Bulls open their preseason Wednesday against the Suns. That is when we find out what all that competition looks like when Buzelis and Wilson are wearing the same uniform.
Chicago's rebuild does not have a clear timeline yet, but the early camp returns say the young core is setting its own standard. If Buzelis and Wilson are the two who set it, the Bulls might be more fun than expected a lot sooner than expected.
via the Chicago Sun-Times (Joe Cowley), reported by Hoops Wire