Optim Analyse

Chicago Bulls select Caleb Wilson with the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft

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The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 NBA Draft.

The Chicago Bulls selected Caleb Wilson with the No. 4 pick on Tuesday in the 2026 NBA Draft.

Wilson, who averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in a season truncated when he broken his right thumb in February, has a tremendous frame for the wing and forward positions. He measured at 6 feet 9.25 inches without shoes with a 7-foot-0.25 wingspan at the combine this year and has a 9-foot standing reach. He’s also a twitchy athlete with serious explosiveness, even by NBA standards. He can consistently live with his head at the rim as a leaper, allowing him to finish just about everything at the basket with a dunk in college. Beyond just getting high off the ground, though, he also gets up quickly. This allows him to be very effective as a rebounder and as a finisher on the interior when he’s dunking.

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Some scouts wonder whether Wilson will have the same level of success in the NBA, where he won’t have the same degree of athletic advantage. He’s also quite skinny, having come in at just 210 pounds at the combine for what were pretty massive measurements. The biggest issues with Wilson come on defense. He’s very poor on that end despite the gaudy steal and block numbers.

Sam Vecenie’s draft guide summary

Caleb Wilson blends power, explosiveness and coordination in a way other players can’t
Sam Vecenie
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Wilson has huge upside athletically, which gives him an All-Star ceiling. His blend of power, explosiveness and coordination on his drives and transition gives him tools other players can’t match. When you combine that with his motor on offense and nose for the ball, it allows him to be remarkably productive. With further skill-based improvement, he has difference-making outcomes in his profile, similar to someone like Pascal Siakam, who has made multiple All-NBA teams.

But he could also become a great, productive four man who doesn’t quite impact winning in the way you want if the skill level and defense don’t improve. If his defense and shot-creation skills don’t grow, he has a similar profile to John Collins as an athletic, play-finishing big man, though Wilson is more coordinated as a ballhandler and plays with quicker reactivity and twitch. Wilson could easily transition into more of a hybrid three/four wing if those pieces come along, or he could end up as more of an undersized four/five.

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Wilson has serious upside, but he is more flawed than a few of the other elite players in the class. There are more pathways for him to become a good starter/rotation player than some of the others. His work ethic will tell the tale in the NBA. But if he’s willing to put in the right kind of work, the ceiling is remarkably high.

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Overall 4 Forward 2

Caleb Wilson North Carolina

Explosive athlete whose ceiling is as high as the top three, but has more flaws.

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Photo of Caleb Wilson North Carolina

John Hollinger’s analysis

Wilson has a very thin frame, can’t shoot from distance and has sequences on defense that will make you shake your head.

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Even with that, his production as a freshman was phenomenal. Let’s start here: He constantly gets to the rim, whether as the initiator or rolling to the cup as a screener. Wilson took 19.3 2-point baskets per 100 possessions in ACC play and made 64.5 percent of them. In other words, he was shooting inside the arc nearly as often as AJ Dybantsa or Kingston Flemings, but he was converting at an awesome rate.

Included in those were mouth-watering transition sequences where he dunked on people’s heads. He loves to push rebounds and start trouble himself, although his dribble can get away from him. As a passer, he was pretty effective as a 6-10 forward, even though he wasn’t wowing you with his reads. It’s just an easy game for him at his size and with the advantages he creates.

The other half of that 2-point percentage is Wilson’s surprising lower-body strength. Despite his thin frame, he’s comfortable powering up in the paint and taking a hit and expertly spins off contact and takes long strides to finish, in a way that is slightly reminiscent of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Now for the bad news: Defensively, Wilson has great tools and made disruptive plays at a high rate (5.4 “stocks” per 100 possessions, 2.8 of which were steals — an amazing rate for a player of this size). However, he was often too casual at that end and was beaten on the perimeter more than you’d expect or want.

And then there’s the shooting. Wilson only made seven 3-pointers all season and shot 71.3 percent from the free-throw line. While Wilson is talented enough to survive in the NBA without a jump shot, selecting him this highly prices in the idea that his 3 will eventually get to a respectable level. Given that his form doesn’t seem broken, I don’t think that’s a crazy bet.

David Aldridge’s draft confidential

College assistant coach No. 2 (his team played North Carolina): I think he’s Garnett. That’s Baby Garnett.

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College head coach No. 1 (his team played North Carolina): For me, with the athleticism of that league, I would probably pick Wilson. But it’s hard. Cam just wins. If Wilson doesn’t get hurt, Hubert (Davis) doesn’t get fired. I just think the athleticism, especially for that league, he’s got, like, some Garnett s— to him. Man, Caleb Wilson’s highlight package, I saw it a few weeks ago. Man, it’s unreal. And he seems like a great kid, super competitive.

College head coach No. 3 (his team played North Carolina): Caleb Wilson is really good. Versatile. Defensively can guard one through five. Athletic and long! Can rebound and push the break. Vocal on that end as well. Offensively he’s a three-level guy. I don’t know what his trick is on that end but as an offensive rebounder, he’s elite. Quick second jump. Secondary ball handler. Has to get a go-to move or find that spot on the floor where he can consistently score.

This story will be updated.

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