Caleb Wilson scores 35 points for Bulls in NBA Summer League debut, but loses 97-96 to Cameron Boozer's Grizzlies

Caleb Wilson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, made his Summer League debut on Friday for the Chicago Bulls with 35 points, setting a rookie record.

That topped the 27 scored by No. 1 pick AJ Dybantsa for the Washington Wizards on Thursday in a win over the Utah Jazz.

Wilson immediately asserted himself on the court in a matchup with No. 3 pick Cameron Boozer and the Memphis Grizzlies. However, Boozer’s team earned the 97-96 win in Las Vegas.

The 6-foot-10 forward scored the Bulls’ opening five points of the game, hitting a 3-pointer at the top of the arc and followed that up with a midrange jumper from the baseline.

However, the play that made observers take notice most was likely a chasedown block in the second quarter. Wilson’s pass at the 3-point line was stolen by the Grizzlies’ Javon Small. But the rookie raced down the court as Small appeared to have a fast-break layup and blocked the shot from behind.

Wilson demonstrated a surprising 3-point shooting touch in his first NBA action, hitting 7-of-11 shots from behind the arc, including two in the closing eight seconds of the game.

The rookie showed confidence from the outside, taking shots off the dribble and nailing a few stepback 3s. For a player who shot 26% on only 27 long-range attempts during his lone season at North Carolina, his accuracy was eye-opening.

Overall, Wilson shot 10-of-21 from the floor, with 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks in an impressive all-around performance.

Cameron Boozer continued to shine in Summer League play

Playing in his third Summer League game, Boozer looked comfortable and was one of the best players on the court. He threw down back-to-back dunks early in the first quarter, one-upping Wilson on the second one by poking the ball away from him and going in for the basket.

Boozer led the Grizzlies with 23 points, shooting 7-for-12 from the floor, while grabbing 6 rebounds with 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block. In a Summer League environment where players sometimes experiment with their game, Boozer brought the ball up several times for Memphis and created offense in the half-court.

Cedric Coward added 17 points for Memphis, grabbing 10 rebounds with 5 assists and 2 blocks, at times drawing attention away from the two rookies.