Bulls' Wilson shines in emotional summer league debut

In an emotional return to the court, Chicago Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson delivered an impressive performance, scoring 35 points in his summer league debut on Friday night. This achievement marked the second highest point total for a debut in Las Vegas since the league began in 2004. Wilson, who played his last competitive game on February 10 after a challenging season at North Carolina that ended with a broken wrist, expressed his emotional state leading up to the game. "It's been five months to the day since the last time I played," Wilson remarked after the Bulls fell to the Memphis Grizzlies 97-96. "I've just been really emotional because I haven't been able to play."

The rookie reflected on the difficulties he faced during the previous months, saying, "I felt terrible because my team lost in the [NCAA] tournament and my coach got fired. It just was a lot for me at that point. So, coming out today, it just felt like I've been waiting so long for this opportunity. I'm just glad I got to come out here and play."

Wilson showcased his versatility during the game, matching his college career total by hitting seven 3-pointers. He added, "I've been working on it hard for a long time. I'm not shocked at all. I've been putting the work in." He also contributed defensively, recording three blocks, two steals, and six rebounds. However, Wilson was more critical of himself, noting the six turnovers he committed.

Bulls coach Tiago Splitter praised Wilson’s aggressive start in his first game but acknowledged the need for continued growth. "We're getting to know him," Splitter said. "The first game, of course, he played extremely well shooting the ball and doing different things, but this is a long road. Repetition of everything. But I'm proud of the effort they put in. Boxing out, crashing every offensive rebound."

After the game, when informed that his 35-point performance was among the best in summer league history, Wilson downplayed the achievement, reminding himself of the team’s loss and areas for improvement. With his points falling just short of Marco Belinelli's 37 points in 2007, Wilson focused on his mishaps rather than the accolades.

Wilson’s debut also saw him face off against top draft class player Cam Boozer of Memphis, who contributed 23 points. Both players recognized each other's talents, with Wilson acknowledging Boozer's game while Boozer reciprocated the praise, highlighting Wilson's capabilities. "He's a great player," Boozer said. "Great players make a lot of shots. It was something maybe he didn't showcase a lot in college, but he's a great player and he started getting hot."