LAS VEGAS — There were a few down moments for Caleb Wilson in his first three Summer League games.
He missed too many free throws and had some bad turnovers.
But my, oh, my, were there highs for the Bulls rookie.
The franchise has been searching for “that dude” for years, and it might have found him with the No. 4 overall pick. And it’s not just his athleticism and two-way above-the-rim game. There’s a swagger that Wilson carries with him that few Bulls have displayed since Joakim Noah was patrolling the paint over a decade ago.
Wilson just gets it.
He does the right things and says the right things.
While top picks AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson were sitting out back-to-backs — both against the Bulls coincidentally — Wilson was asking vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham to let him play.
“I wanted to win a game before I stop,” Wilson said to reporters after the Bulls’ victory over the Dybantsa-less Wizards on Tuesday night. “I don’t get to play again until October, probably, or whenever the season starts. I’m just trying to learn as much as I can, and there’s no better place to do that than Summer League.”
Asked about Peterson and Dybantsa skipping a showdown with him and the Bulls, Wilson, 19, said that he’s “different from all of them.’’
“I can’t say they don’t enjoy basketball, but I enjoy basketball,’’ he said. ‘‘I love this [expletive]. I’m going to play as much as I can, as much as my team will let me. I’m not the type to go away from a game because I don’t feel good because I know in the NBA, I’m not going to feel good some games. As long as I don’t have an injury or something that’s wrong with me, I’m gonna play every time. People come from all over the world to see me play, so I don’t want to let them down.”
Wilson need not worry about that, averaging 24.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 1.3 steals while shooting 60% from the field and 50% from three-point range. He was one of the bigger winners through the first week of Summer League but not the only one.
Winner: The top of the 2026 draft class — There’s no doubt the ’26 class was talented, drawing comparisons to the vaunted 1996 draft class and 2003, but the first four picks — Dybantsa, Peterson, Cameron Boozer and Wilson — all looked like franchise-changers and future All-Stars.
Loser: Dailyn Swain — While Wilson put the “gas” in Vegas, Swain became the player who went bust. Yes, he was playing point guard, which was new to him, but going 3-for-26 from the field (11.5%) and missing all seven three-pointers through the first three games wasn’t a great look for the No. 15 overall pick. The silver lining? The games don’t count.
Winner: Labaron Philon Jr. — Summer League reporter: “So what can we expect from you in the second half?”
Philon: “A lot of cookin’.”
That’s exactly what the 76ers rookie has done, playing at a high level and trash-talking even higher. Philadelphia might have stolen one in Philon with pick No. 22.
Loser: Darius Acuff Jr.’s defense — Acuff felt it was crazy that he slipped down to No. 7, but the knock on him all along was his defense. That knock was alive and well in Vegas, as the Kings might allow 130 a night at this rate.
Winner: The Nets — Brooklyn might have a Batman and Robin backcourt in the making with rookie Mikel Brown Jr. and second-year guard Egor Demin. Brown is an electric ball-handler and highlight; Demin added muscle and craftiness to his game.
Loser: Keaton Wagler’s first step — Yes, the Illinois guard can shoot it, but the lack of separation he displayed against a lot of future G-leaguers was concerning. The good news for Wagler is the NBA regular season will give him more space to operate. He’ll need it.
Winner: Two of the three Michigan guys — Morez Johnson Jr. (No. 9), Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11) and Aday Mara (No. 12) were all lottery selections. Johnson and Lendeborg look like immediate fits for their teams — the Mavericks and Warriors, respectively — while Mara looked awkward and slow. The good news? Golden State can bring the 7-3 big along slowly.
Loser: Those who passed on Cameron Carr — There weren’t 23 better players than Carr in the ’26 draft class, and Carr (selected No. 24) is showing that. The Lakers guard is a bucket whenever he touches the ball, scoring from all three levels.
