Caleb Wilson’s Early NBA Trials and Shooting Struggles

During Wednesday’s game, Caleb Wilson maneuvered around a screen in the first quarter of the Chicago Bulls’ 133-127 defeat to the New York Knicks. As a rookie, Wilson required minimal space—a small step or brief moment of separation from his defender—to see an opportunity. He confidently attempted a shot, but it fell short, hitting the front of the United Center rim. This continued a trend for Wilson, who has struggled to make his three-point shots.

Wilson has successfully made only eight of his 36 attempts from beyond the arc, equating to a 22.2% success rate. Despite this, he remains the Bulls’ second-most active shooter from deep, with an average of 7.2 attempts per game. Norman Powell ranks just ahead of him with 8.2 attempts. Among the 2026 rookies, Wilson has attempted the most three-pointers, though Darius Acuff Jr. of the Sacramento Kings surpasses him on a per-game basis with 8.5 shots.

Most of Wilson’s attempts have not found the basket, yet coach Tiago Splitter encourages him to continue shooting. Splitter sees these struggles as part of the learning curve for NBA newcomers. “It’s part of their development,” Splitter noted. “If you’re open, you’ve got to shoot it. You practice it every day and you’ve got to take them.” This philosophy has shaped Wilson’s rookie season.

Splitter values Wilson’s offensive creativity, both as a shooter and a passer. While reluctant to dictate players’ shot selections, Splitter wants Wilson to discern between wise and ill-advised shots. Wilson acknowledges that this lesson is becoming clearer as he adjusts to professional play.

The NBA’s heightened athletic environment highlights challenges such as rapid opportunity windows. Wilson has realized that adapting to this speed is crucial. “Honestly, it’s just a comfort-level thing,” he shared. “Playing in the NBA is so different than every other level of basketball I’ve played before. You might be wide open for a second, and then a closeout comes and you’re not.”

Entering his rookie year, improving his three-point shooting was a priority for Wilson. His capabilities in this area drew skepticism during the draft process, as he only managed 27 attempts in his single year at North Carolina with an efficiency of 25.9%. The combination of limited attempts and accuracy raised concerns among critics.

Wilson made a statement by hitting seven three-pointers in his summer league debut, countering the doubts that had been vocalized. Although his shooting statistics have since stabilized, Wilson remains undeterred. “I’m just going to keep proving I’m a shooter,” he asserted.

In the fourth quarter against the Knicks, Wilson confidently received a pass at the top of the key during transition and attempted another three-pointer, managing a clean swish. Splitter supports him taking such risks due to his unwavering conviction. Wilson dismisses concerns about confidence: “No, because I know who I am,” he stated. “I just know that it’s going to happen. It’s the beginning of my first year in the NBA. You expect some type of hardship no matter what. It’s just like starting a new job.”