Bulls' Caleb Wilson still alive and well in Rookie of the Year running

There will be a time and place for Caleb Wilson to assess the competition.

That’s when the Bulls rookie can decide if he will attempt to play assassin or take a more passive approach and let the ball bounce where it may.

Don’t bet on the latter.

“Nah, I feel like that’s on them whatever they do,” Wilson said recently when asked if he was keeping tabs on his fellow rookie class. “I get my chance to play everyone, and I’ll focus on that chance when I get it. Honestly, I feel like I’m learning so much and going through so many things, I can’t worry about anyone else. I feel like I’ve got to focus on myself.”

Check back in about a week.

While the start of the 2026-27 regular-season campaign was a gauntlet of playoff-to-championship level teams to try and navigate, Wilson gets to reunite with some of the key figures in the June draft class, starting on Friday when Atlanta comes to town.

No. 8 overall pick Kingston Flemings isn’t the reason the Hawks are in the top half of the Eastern Conference through the first furlong of the season, but he has started the last three games with veteran CJ McCollum volunteering to move to the bench, allowing Kingston to have some moments.

Wilson will see Cleveland’s sneaky second-round pick Meleek Thomas (12.3 points per game) twice in the next few weeks, Brooklyn’s Mikel Brown Jr. (No. 6 pick overall) next week, and the big one on Nov. 20 when the Bulls host Washington and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa.

The BYU product was slowed at the start of the season with an ankle issue but has been up and running for the Wizards, flashing some of the skills that made him a first-team All-American as a true freshman.

According to the latest Vegas odds, Wilson now sits fifth in the Rookie of the Year campaign, led by Memphis’ Cameron Boozer (No. 3 overall pick), Golden State’s Yaxel Lendeborg (No. 11), Sacramento’s Darius Acuff Jr. (No. 7), Dybantsa and then Wilson.

No. 2 selection Darryn Peterson is right behind Wilson but is making a push with back-to-back 20-point games, including a 26-point performance Sunday against the Timberwolves.

The one lock to throw money at? That this rookie class has been as good as advertised and is already making an impact around the Association.

Does that mean Wilson will find his chase for Rookie of the Year too difficult of a race to run? Not really when it goes under a microscope:

Boozer – Contender – The Duke product has the highest floor of the entire class just because of his skillset and the opportunity to showcase it. As expected, he’s averaging a double-double, but he’s also handed out 5.2 assists per game and already has a triple-double on the resume.

Acuff Jr. – Pretender – There’s no doubt he can score but the guard obviously has the green light as soon as the car pulls in the arena parking lot. He’s fourth in the NBA with 23 shots a game and doing it on an awful team.

Peterson – Contender – Injuries have handcuffed Utah somewhat and Peterson is in perfect position to fill a void for a team that has some talent.

Lendeborg – Contender – Captured the early-season hype with his trash-talk session with Luka Doncic and has two 30-plus point games. The Warriors are still without Jimmy Butler, but Lendeborg’s moxie has staying power.

Dybantsa – Pretender – He could very well be the best player in the class in a few years but is a fourth option behind shot-heavy Trae Young and Anthony Davis. Throw Kyshawn George in the mix and Dybantsa has to wait in line on too many nights.