Caleb Wilson last week introduced himself to the NBA with one of the most spectacular performances in Summer League history, a star-is-born 35 points against the player selected ahead of him in the NBA Draft with an I-told-you-so about shooting with 7-of-11 three-point field goals.
Wilson concluded his Summer of Caleb Thursday with game-highs of 21 points and eight rebounds, but a welcome to the NBA experience of physical play and frustration in the Bulls not-that-close 105-82 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers summer campers.
Wilson committed eight turnovers against the relentless pressure of a physical and undefeated Lakers summer squad, just before halftime delivering a retaliatory body block offensive foul that helped lead to both teams pushing, shoving, taunting and doing enough pointing that Sophie Cunningham supposedly was envious.
“3-for-33 from the three doesn’t help the cause,” observed Martin Rančík, the third in the Bulls Summer League college of coaches. “Once they picked up their intensity, their physicality a little bit, it took us away from who we want to be. We got frustrated, we stopped playing our game. Instead of becoming more united, I felt it divided us. Offensively, we started being more selfish, stopped moving the ball. Defensively, we weren’t as united. We didn’t defend with five as much, and that took us out of the game.
“I think it’s a great learning experience, especially for guys like Caleb and Dailyn (Swain) because when they come to the NBA, the league is physical,” Rančík pointed out. “They are not going to get (touch) fouls called by the referees. It all comes down to how you handle adversity, and adversity is going to come in each game. So I think it was a great learning experience, and it’s great we have another opportunity tomorrow.”
That’s Friday’s 6 p.m. CT final Bulls game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Those Lakers moved into the semifinals and likely a game for the Summer League title this weekend.
It’s back to Chicago this weekend for the Bulls, and a spectator seat Friday for Wilson.
He said he won’t play in Friday’s conclusion.
Wilson finishes Summer League with perhaps the best marks in franchise history averaging 23.5 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 1.3 steals in just 28 minutes per game and shooting 42% on threes.
He also answered the rare call in the NBA these days of availability is the best ability as he played in more Summer League games than all the top draft prospects.
It may be even more impressive for the Bulls than his performances, harkening back to Michael Jordan’s Love of the Game clause that Wilson also is about playing the game. Wilson seems to be on that rare path, at least for this current NBA era.
“I feel like it’s important to get reps,” said Wilson. “I didn’t have to persuade them (to play); we came to an agreement.”
Maybe you can say that generously about some of the discussions among the players Thursday.
“I’ve got 10 fouls, I’m going to use them,” Wilson said about his downfield block. “They were fouling me, so I’ll do it back; that’s the type of player I am. I’d summarize (the four games) as a learning lesson. I came to Summer League as someone (who they said) couldn’t shoot, and they played me like that. Then I was a focal point and I had to create for others more. I learned a lot. First game, I was able to shoot because they weren’t playing me as a shooter. Then as the (games) went on, people starting me (playing me that way). Things I wasn’t going through before, so it was a good learning experience.”
Thursday’s also may have been the best learning experience for Bryson Graham and the Bulls new management and coaching staff.
Swain scored, but was 1-of-5 for four points. Facing more pressure, Jaylin Sellers and Donovan Atwell, the scoring forces of the Game 3 win, were a combined 0-for-14 on threes. Tobe Awaka and Boo Buie each added 12 points. The physicality seemed too much for Noa Essengue, who played just 11 minutes and had seven fouls.
It was a vital and worthy reminder for new management about its to-do list.
Get tougher.
It’s where John Paxson excelled when he was hired as general manager. Paxson couldn’t assemble a championship contender until lucking into the Derrick Rose lottery. But Paxson prioritized toughness with the likes of Kirk Hinrich, Andrés Nocioni, Antonio Davis, Ben Wallace, Brad Miller, Kurt Thomas. It was a roster in the image of the original blue collar Bulls with Jerry Sloan and Norm Van Lier.
That style of play mostly — just mostly — has been legislated out of the NBA. But there’s also become a physical standard players have to accommodate.
It mostly worked against the Bulls in recent years, accounting for those play-in losses to Miami. The scouting report was that to beat ‘em, you beat ’em up.
Coach Billy Donovan understood well and cleverly attempted to adjust to the roster weaknesses with a fast paced transition style that reduced half court play in favor of trying to score before the defense could set. But that sort of play had diminishing returns because it often led to injuries because of the increased pace.
It seems apparent that Graham understands since his two-way contract players, Awaka and Sellers, are known for their physical play. It will be something of a balancing act for new coach Tiago Splitter inheriting several players from that previous ethic who are targeted as starters. Do they have that edge? Can they acquire it?
Not only is Wilson a remarkably talented athlete — and as he showed a capable shooter — he appears to possess that willingness to engage. He won’t be quite the target once the regular season starts, especially likely starting with a tough veteran like Norman Powell.
While word about Wilson has been spreading.
Hall of Fame Kevin Garnett was courtside for the Bulls and Lakers and even playfully in a sideline interview referred to Wilson as “Little Ticket,” an homage to his own “Big Ticket” nickname.
The Garnett comparisons were started before the Draft by Draymond Green on his podcast.
“I think Caleb Wilson could be potentially the best player in this draft,” Green said at the time. “I actually think his floor is Kevin Garnett. And man if that’s your floor, oh my God. You know how great KG was? I actually think Caleb Wilson, Kevin Garnett could be his floor. That’s how special I think Caleb Wilson is.”
Wilson was asked about the Garnett comparison earlier this week and appropriately responded, “We have some similarities, but I feel like we're much different players. Kevin Garnett's a Hall of Famer. I don't want to be compared to a Hall of Famer because that messes up my expectations. I don't have expectations of being Kevin Garnett. I just have expectations of being Caleb Wilson.”
Actually, Wilson isn’t really much like Garnett at a similar stage in their careers.
Wilson already is a much more accomplished offensive player and more athletic.
Garnett was something of a pioneer of the prep-to-pro era and was brought along slowly, mostly being a facilitator early in his career since he was an excellent passer. Garnett never developed any range on his shot, his preference being an elbow fadeaway. He played with a driven passion as an intimidator.
Which is why we loved those pre-Rose Bulls teams.
Garnett used to delight in trying to intimidate smaller guards, though it never worked with the Bulls. Hinrich used to try to chase him down after Garnett would take a cheap shot. Kirk often had to be held back by teammates as Hinrich would be daring Garnett to meet him after the game. Yeah, you think you knew Kirk Hinrich.
We’re all going to love getting to know Caleb Wilson as he figures to endure many more off these welcomes to the NBA.
The Bulls never led in this game and trailed by 32 points. They were outscored by 27 points the middle two quarters. With Wilson facing more aggressive closeouts, the Bulls ran some clever actions getting Wilson at the elbow to draw defense and dropping off passes for an easy layup. But not much came easy. Swain broke a shooting drought with a driving dunk, but had four points. Wilson had another of those chase-down blocks, this time after he was stripped of the ball mid court. He never seems to quit on plays.
Wilson often cleared the boards and led the break, one time with a half court bounce pass that was fumbled before an easy layup. And while he played when other top picks rarely play more than a game or two in summer, Wilson was hardly reckless. He strategized the danger as well because there’s so much desperation, and some resulting disorder, with so many players without contracts and commitments who are trying to impress.
The kid thinks the game as well as he plays.
“I just do the smart thing when I’m playing out there,” Wilson said earlier this week. “I'm crashing the boards every single time in an NBA game. Honestly, in a Summer League game I’m not going to do it every time if I don’t feel it’s smart to go down there. I’m just going to play the game smart. Like even shooting. Some of the shots I shoot, I wouldn’t shoot them in an NBA game. The refs miss calls all the time in the Summer League, but they are letting us play because it’s such a physical game. Everyone gets 10 fouls. That’s unrealistic basketball; you shoot one free throw. I just try to play smart, play safe, play off two feet when I get to the paint. If I’m in a situation where I have to shoot some acrobatic shot, I’ll just pass it away.”
You rarely see anyone leaving Las Vegas with a smile. But it’s been a delight to watch this kid.
“Caleb, he’s super talented,” acknowledged Rančík. “But I felt frustration got the best of him. I felt like he started to worry about stuff outside of basketball, stuff outside what he could control. That’s the type of competitor he is. He wants to be great and compete against the best and is willing to put in the work.”
And put on that metaphorical hard hat which so appeals to Chicago fans. Wilson showed he could dunk and shoot. And that he won’t back down or back away. He’ll compete.
“I can learn from this,” Wilson said. “Get back to Chicago and go to work and figure out what I have to do better.”
It’s just the beginning. This could be one heck of a ride.
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