Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson posts 16 points, nine turnovers in NBA debut
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The gist
Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson scored 16 points with nine turnovers in a 135-92 loss to Toronto.
His -45 plus-minus was reported as the worst in an NBA debut.
Background
Caleb Wilson is a 20-year-old forward for the Chicago Bulls, selected fourth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft out of North Carolina. He averaged 15.8 points and 4.4 rebounds over five preseason games, and Yahoo Sports graded that preseason a B-, noting he struggled defending on the perimeter. His debut drew attention because of the lopsided score and the record plus-minus, though Yahoo Sports said one game is no reason to panic.
How it unfolded
- Oct 16, 2026Wilson hit a three-point basket in the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at United Center in Chicago.
- Oct 17, 2026Yahoo Sports graded Wilson's first preseason with the Bulls a B-.
- Oct 21, 2026In his NBA debut, Wilson played 32 minutes in the Bulls' 135-92 loss to the Toronto Raptors, recording 16 points on 7-of-21 shooting, four rebounds, three steals, one block and nine turnovers.
- Oct 21, 2026His plus-minus of -45 was reported as the worst in a debut in NBA history.
- Oct 22, 2026Reports described Wilson as healthy and locked into Chicago's starting lineup at power forward ahead of a game at Milwaukee.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- FantasySP said Wilson's nine turnovers exposed his rookie learning curve, while his heavy volume and aggression validated his 95% fantasy start rate.
- Caution
- Yahoo Sports said Wilson was very inefficient, contributing to the blowout loss, but added it's only one game and there's no need to panic.
- Expert
- Yahoo Sports' preseason review said Wilson struggled defending on the perimeter, was frequently beaten off the dribble and watched the ball rather than tracking his assignment.