The Klutch Sports family takes care of the Klutch Sports family.
If that means 7 a.m. workouts with the “Unc,” himself, LeBron James, well, even better.
This has been some summer for Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson.
When he wasn’t serving notice of his arrival to the NBA back in Summer League, he’s been spotted at Cubs games cheering on Pete Crow-Armstrong with teammate Matas Buzelis and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, balling out with Buzelis in a South Side Pro Run, and most recently working out with James and some other players represented by Klutch Sports.
The King eyeing his heir?
Bulls fans hope so. For now, however, Wilson will have to remain the prince that was promised.
And while he headlines the team’s frontcourt, not all eyes will be on him. Buzelis is 21 and coming off a season in which he hit 173 three-pointers and blocked 116 shots. That’s elite company in NBA history where names like Dirk and KD reside.
Then there’s the “old man” of the group in 27-year-old Nic Claxton. Before his back betrayed him with issues the last few seasons, Claxton recorded 189 blocks in the 2022-23 campaign and followed that up with a 146-block season.
By all accounts the back is no longer an issue, which means with Wilson, Buzelis and Claxton the skies above the United Center are basically a no-fly zone for the opposition.
Even better news for new coach Tiago Splitter? His starting frontcourt doesn’t just rim protect on the defensive end of the floor. All three have the athleticism and versatility to switch onto guards and wings, which at least on paper should make the Bulls a much better defensive team than they’ve been the last few years.
Offensively? That’s the wait and see. Buzelis and Wilson have already been building a chemistry in runs and team scrimmages, but what will it look like when the lights are on and the games count? It’s looked great this summer. Then again, most everything Wilson touched did.
FORWARD THINKING
The Starters: Baring an injury setback, the starting frontcourt is already jotted down in pencil with Claxton, Buzelis and Wilson. This could be the most exciting frontcourt the Bulls have had since the Joakim Noach, Luol Deng days.
Buzelis – Year 3 is always huge for a young player and Buzelis is no different. It feels like he is on the edge of stardom and the addition of Wilson might only propel that.
Wilson – Not only does he want to be the Rookie of the Year for the vaunted 2026 draft class, but he’s chasing overall league greatness. Wilson will be must-see TV this season.
Claxton – If the back is truly healthy then the Bulls will have an athletic big patrolling the paint that they haven’t had in quite some time.
The Reserves: It’s been a little while since the Bulls have had frontcourt depth and a presence on the wings, but this group should change that. Splitter is being handed a versatile group that can gives the opposition different looks.
Isaac Okoro – There were some ups and down for Okoro on the offensive end but his defense was never questioned. Is he a key reserve to help lock down second teamers or could he be a trade piece? Time will tell.
Jalen Smith – The stretch big upped his game last season, shooting 37.3% from three-point range and averaging 10.2 points per game – his second-highest scoring campaign.
Zach Collins – The center was re-signed for a reason as the Bulls love his physicality and presence in the paint. As long as he stays healthy, the Collins-Claxton duo can be a solid one-two punch.
Patrick Williams – Does the former No. 4 overall pick even crack the rotation? It will be interesting to see, especially if Leonard Miller has a say in it.
Miller – Miller’s April last year for the Bulls? How about 16.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 57.7% from the field. He did everything the Bulls wanted to see from Williams the last few years.
Noa Essengue – The second-year forward has a lot to prove to his new coach and front office, already on thin ice with his questionable play in Summer League. His age (19) does give him some grace but he needs a lot of work still.