Chicago Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson needed only one game to deliver an encouraging response to a difficult NBA debut. The No. 4 overall pick scored 21 points Friday as Chicago beat the Milwaukee Bucks 132-125, helping the Bulls earn their first victory of the season after Wednesday’s 43-point loss in Toronto.
Wilson finished 7-of-14 from the field, hit two three-pointers and added six rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 33 minutes. More importantly, he made winning plays late. Milwaukee led 123-122 with less than three minutes remaining before Wilson scored four consecutive points from the free-throw line to put Chicago ahead for good. Norman Powell led the Bulls with 25 points, while Leonard Miller added 19. Tyler Herro scored 34 for Milwaukee. Wilson’s performance was a sharp turnaround from his opener, when he scored 16 but shot 7-of-21 and committed nine turnovers in Toronto.
That response is what makes Friday more meaningful than an ordinary 21-point rookie night. Wilson told Chicago Sports Network afterward that he feels “built for the moment” and wants to become an exceptionally focused, detailed player. For a Bulls organization openly building around a younger core, the rookie’s willingness to absorb a rough debut and immediately respond on the road is an early positive. Two games do not define a career, but Wilson already has shown he can take a hit, adjust and make important plays when the next opportunity arrives.