Young Bulls Will Grow from Tough Opening Loss

The Chicago Bulls' fourth-overall draft choice, Caleb Wilson, may very well turn into an excellent NBA talent and blossom into the type of player whose skills and potential earned him comparisons to Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett based on his measurables and Summer League production.

But, in his first-ever NBA game on Wednesday night in Toronto, there was no running of the bulls, or any type of Bull Run, as author Roland Lazenby titled his 1996 chronicle of the 72-10 championship team. On this night, there was a predatory force that prohibited such movement.

In their first game of the 2026-27 season, and in what was Kawhi Leonard’s return to the franchise after seven seasons as a Los Angeles Clipper, the Toronto Raptors stifled the Bulls, holding the team to just 42% shooting from the field and 27 turnovers, nine of which were by the rookie Wilson, in a 135-92 win.

Leonard, without his usual trademark braids, received a loud ovation from the Scotiabank Arena crowd, a crowd that waited precisely seven seasons to maybe, hopefully, have that moment again with the seven-time all-star. The reaction upon Leonard's introduction said everything about how much the Toronto fans missed him.

The 35-year-old made an impact right away with some early steals and transition opportunities, though he did have some trouble finishing at the rim and did come up short on his jump shots throughout the contest. He played 24 minutes and in those minutes scored 23 points with six rebounds and four steals. Although he finished just 5-of-17 (and 2-of-6 from deep) from the floor, he did make all 11 of his free-throw attempts. Leonard, whose immediate NBA future was in limbo as the league's investigation into his cap circumvention scandal dragged into August, is still clearly finding his legs. Scottie Barnes finished 8-of-19 for 23 points and posted six rebounds and five assists. 

The Raptors’ most impressive player on this night was guard Immanuel Quickley, who there was a lot of trade talk about in the off-season. His fit in a lineup with two-way dynamos like Leonard and Barnes was questioned. But on opening night, he was solid - accurate from beyond the arc and especially in catch and shoot situations - and quelled such concerns.

On the other side, Wilson, who underwent thumb surgery that abruptly ended his final season as a North Carolina Tar Heel prior to June’s draft, finished with 16 points and four rebounds, but was just 7-of-21 from the field and 1-of-8 from 3-point range. Matas Buzelis, another talented forward at 24 years of age, finished with 17 points and six rebounds but was just 2-of-8 from the floor. The pair of young forwards struggled.

Wilson's energy and enthusiasm combined with hurried play created a finished product in his first pro game that saw some athletic finishes masked with turnovers and forcing the issue. Wilson, a Georgia kid, could have benefited from listening to some of New York's finest - A Tribe Called Quest's Electric Relaxation - in his headphones pregame. But in fairness to the pedigreed, talented pup, he was going against an all-time wing defender in Leonard and a preeminent perimeter stopper in Barnes. Wilson had a difficult night, but it was about as tough of a task as a talented rookie, especially one with perimeter skills, could have. He will figure it out.

Under new head coach Thiago Splitter, who comes from the Gregg Popovich school, the Bulls have a wealth of young talent - Wilson, Buzelis, and lead guard Josh Giddey (24), along with big men Jalen Smith (26), and Nic Claxton (27). Former Raptor Norman Powell, 33, is the veteran. Splitter chose to leave his two young centerpieces Wilson and Buzelis in the game to finish it, well into garbage time, allowing them to learn as they go, develop through the difficulties. Get the reps.

The Raptors caught the young Bulls on this night. The Windy City kids will get there, but Wilson and company will have to go through struggle before they can get out and run.