Chicago Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson is not lacking confidence as he joins the team Michael Jordan built.
The fourth overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft bared his admiration for surpassing the consensus greatest of all time. The 19-year-old laid out his bold goal in his post-draft interview.
"I'm writing my own story, man," he said. "I want to be better than Mike, honestly. I know it's a lot to go, but I'm writing my own story, for sure."
Wilson doubled down on his lofty ambitions in a recent "First Take" appearance. He confidently told Stephen A. Smith exactly where he stands.
"I dream big. That's how I got to the position I'm in today," he added. "I'm going to work hard and do whatever it takes to back it. I know that's a lot of shoes to fill, but I'm going to do my best to do it."
The North Carolina connection makes the moment even more fitting. Wilson is the third Tar Heel the Bulls have drafted in the first round.
He joins Coby White, selected seventh overall in 2019. The man Wilson is chasing, Jordan himself, was taken third overall in 1984.
Wilson gave Chicago plenty of reason to believe in his freshman season. He averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks. He also shot an efficient 57.8% from the field in 24 games.
The 6-foot-10 forward’s points-per-game average set a UNC freshman scoring record. He also broke Tyler Hansbrough's mark for the most 20-plus-point games by a Tar Heel freshman.
Wilson missed the final nine games and the NCAA Tournament with hand injuries, yet his draft stock never wavered.
Jordan wore No. 23 in Chicago and rewrote the record books. Wilson arrives ready to author his own chapter.
