Caleb Wilson Sets Summer League Debut Record Despite Bulls Loss to Grizzlies

Caleb Wilson made an unforgettable first impression for the Chicago Bulls, but his record-setting performance was not enough to prevent a narrow 97-96 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA 2K26 Las Vegas Summer League. The No. 4 overall pick scored 35 points in his debut, setting a new record for the most points in a Las Vegas Summer League debut while becoming one of the biggest stories in NBA News.

The highly anticipated matchup featured two of the top NBA Players selected in the 2026 NBA Draft. Wilson faced No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer for the first time as professionals, giving fans an early glimpse of what could become an exciting rivalry in the years ahead.

Wilson announces his arrival

Wilson wasted little time making his presence felt by scoring Chicago's first five points on a three-pointer and a smooth mid-range jumper. He finished the night shooting 12-for-21 from the field and an impressive 7-for-11 from beyond the arc, a surprising display considering outside shooting was viewed as an area for improvement during his college career at North Carolina.

His impact extended beyond scoring. Wilson also collected five rebounds, two steals, and three blocks, including a chase-down rejection on Javon Small after a turnover that quickly became one of the game's most talked-about highlights. Although he committed several turnovers, his confidence and ability to create offense stood out throughout the contest.

Wilson's performance also set a new benchmark for this year's rookie class. His 35-point outing surpassed the 27-point Summer League debut by No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, giving the Bulls rookie the highest-scoring debut among the 2026 draft class so far. While Summer League results should be viewed with caution, Wilson's combination of scoring, shot-making, and defensive activity offered an encouraging glimpse of his potential heading into training camp.

Memphis counters with balanced team play

While Wilson dominated the headlines, Memphis relied on contributions across its lineup. Boozer finished with 23 points, six rebounds, and four assists, continuing the strong play he had already shown earlier in Summer League while displaying his ability to score, facilitate, and control the pace of the offense.

Cedric Coward added a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Javon Small scored 15 points and Olivier-Maxence Prosper chipped in 13. Even though the Grizzlies made only three of their 21 attempts from three-point range, they controlled much of the game with efficient interior scoring, strong rebounding, and balanced offense.

Despite struggling from beyond the arc, Memphis stayed composed in key moments and consistently found other ways to generate offense. The Grizzlies also benefited from strong ball movement and timely defensive stops, allowing them to maintain their lead whenever Chicago threatened to close the gap. Their balanced approach ultimately proved enough to overcome Wilson's outstanding individual performance and secure the narrow victory.

Bulls Rally falls just short

Memphis built momentum early with a 12-0 run in the opening quarter and carried a double-digit advantage into the fourth period. Chicago responded with its strongest stretch of the game, outscoring the Grizzlies 28-18 in the final quarter as Wilson buried two late three-pointers, including a contested shot at the buzzer that trimmed the final margin to one point.

Jaylin Sellers contributed 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists for Chicago, while Noa Essengue added 10 points along with four blocks and two steals. Fellow first-round pick Dailyn Swain also provided valuable minutes as the Bulls continued evaluating their young roster during Summer League play.

Although the result went in Memphis' favor, the night belonged to Wilson, whose debut immediately placed him among the most exciting young NBA Players to watch this offseason. His performance not only established a new Summer League record but also gave Bulls fans plenty of optimism, making his first professional appearance one of the biggest stories in recent NBA News.