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Caleb Wilson's stellar Summer League play has led to workout opportunities with Dirk Nowitzki, formerly of the Dallas Mavericks, and praise from NBA legends including former Bulls superstar Scottie Pippen.
Wilson is just 20 years old headed into his rookie NBA season but wise beyond his years, a diehard fan and student of the game with a sharp mind for high level basketball.
On Friday, Wilson was asked to share the reasoning behind his decision to select number eight as his Bulls jersey number, and his response explains the unusual versatility of his game comparable to guards and forwards alike.
Wilson explained that he chose his number eight Bulls jersey because of his admiration for former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who wore both number twenty and number eight during his time with the Lakers franchise.
"So in high school I wrote number twenty four because of Kobe, then in college I wrote number eight because of Kobe," Wilson said in a video posted by the NBA's official X account.
"So I was just like you know, I'm just going to stick with number eight, keep it calm and classy," he added.
Wilson is a rarity among power forwards, even in the free-flowing modern NBA game, because of his ability to drive, pull up from deep, and work the mid-range game, similar to his idol Bryant.
With a wiry strong frame and a willingness to put the ball on the deck, Wilson has the skill set to put butts in the United Center seats this coming season.
Bryant came into the NBA as a marked man, straight from high school with high expectations, and now Wilson is about to follow a similar path after being named as one of the Summer League's top five players.
With a three-point percentage just under 26% during his time in Chapel Hill with the North Carolina Tar Heels, it's clear Wilson has his work cut out for him in year one.
Bryant also came in as a relatively unpolished player who took his lumps along the way in Los Angeles before learning how to play with Shaquille O'Neal and in Phil Jackson's vaunted triangle offense.
It's clear that Wilson has a lot to learn, but he also has a work ethic to match with the NBA regular season roughly two months away.
Bulls fans are hungry for a winner, but will have to balance their expectations with the reality of a young supporting cast, and a franchise still learning how to win put the pieces of the puzzle together in a hard-knocks Eastern Conference.
Continue reading...
Wilson is just 20 years old headed into his rookie NBA season but wise beyond his years, a diehard fan and student of the game with a sharp mind for high level basketball.
On Friday, Wilson was asked to share the reasoning behind his decision to select number eight as his Bulls jersey number, and his response explains the unusual versatility of his game comparable to guards and forwards alike.
Wilson Explains Choice of Number Eight Bulls Jersey
Wilson explained that he chose his number eight Bulls jersey because of his admiration for former Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, who wore both number twenty and number eight during his time with the Lakers franchise.
"So in high school I wrote number twenty four because of Kobe, then in college I wrote number eight because of Kobe," Wilson said in a video posted by the NBA's official X account.
"So I was just like you know, I'm just going to stick with number eight, keep it calm and classy," he added.
Wilson's Expectations For Year One
Wilson is a rarity among power forwards, even in the free-flowing modern NBA game, because of his ability to drive, pull up from deep, and work the mid-range game, similar to his idol Bryant.
With a wiry strong frame and a willingness to put the ball on the deck, Wilson has the skill set to put butts in the United Center seats this coming season.
Bryant came into the NBA as a marked man, straight from high school with high expectations, and now Wilson is about to follow a similar path after being named as one of the Summer League's top five players.
With a three-point percentage just under 26% during his time in Chapel Hill with the North Carolina Tar Heels, it's clear Wilson has his work cut out for him in year one.
Bryant also came in as a relatively unpolished player who took his lumps along the way in Los Angeles before learning how to play with Shaquille O'Neal and in Phil Jackson's vaunted triangle offense.
It's clear that Wilson has a lot to learn, but he also has a work ethic to match with the NBA regular season roughly two months away.
Bulls fans are hungry for a winner, but will have to balance their expectations with the reality of a young supporting cast, and a franchise still learning how to win put the pieces of the puzzle together in a hard-knocks Eastern Conference.
Continue reading...
