NBA legend Dwyane Wade believes Caleb Wilson has the potential to become the Chicago Bulls’ next franchise star, comparing his impact and mentality to some of the organization’s most prominent players.
Wade, a Chicago native who spent one season with the Bulls during his NBA career, discussed the team’s need for a player capable of becoming the face of the franchise.
He pointed to Michael Jordan, Derrick Rose, and Jimmy Butler as examples of players who previously held that role in Chicago.
“Go down to my hometown, where we have been missing a star player or a player that we can look at that we feel that could be a star player. Obviously, Jimmy grew into that, his time in Chicago. Before Jimmy, it was Derrick Rose, before Derrick Rose, kind of a gap since MJ.”
According to Wade, Wilson has already shown the personality and competitive attitude necessary to become a centerpiece for the Bulls.
“Caleb Wilson, he gives you that outlook right now. He keep developing, he keep growing, because he has the personality that you love from your star player. Probably a nice kid away from the game of basketball. When he’s on that court, when he step between them lines, he got that dog mentality. And that’s what you want. You want that from your main guy. You’re looking at him as a centerpiece to say, ‘All right, we can build around this guy.’”
Wade also compared Wilson to Hall of Fame forward Kevin Garnett, highlighting similarities in their intensity and presence on the court.
“I told you last time, I said, ‘He reminds me of Kevin Garnett. He got that KG kind of aura about him. Very early. What I love about him is right now every aspect of his game is not clicking and working yet. We know he can shoot the outside shot. Those things take a little while to kind of get going. But his activity, his defensive reboun.”
