Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson sore hip, Digi Mart USA News: Bulls rookie Caleb Wilson was questionable to play against San Antonio because of a sore hip, but he cleared his pregame workouts and got the starting nod.
The Bulls’ prized rookie was dealing with the hip after the loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. It was enough of a concern that he had to get through warmups, test it out, and then give the medical staff the go-ahead that he was good to play.
Even so, the situation served as a reminder that Wilson’s heavy workload, leading the team with 32.4 minutes per game, is necessary for the development the No. 4 overall draft pick needs. The Bulls may want to monitor that figure more closely over the next few games.
“We’ve got to be smart with him, of course,” coach Tiago Splitter said of Wilson. “He’s playing a lot of minutes.
Those minutes are important to his development, but we’ve also got to be smart with his body being young. I think there’s a false thought that when you’re young you can do whatever, but that’s not true.
You’ve got to get stronger, you’ve got to get your body prepared to face a season like the NBA, so we’ve got to be careful there and we’ve got to monitor it for sure.”
Wilson played 32 minutes against the 76ers and was coming off a game in New York in which he was softly benched because of body language and a lack of resilience, in Splitter’s estimation. He played a season-low 22 minutes in that loss.
Even with those moments for the 20-year-old where he may take a step back, there have been far more steps forward through the first 10 games.
“Honestly, every game is a little bit different,” Splitter said of Wilson’s growth so far. “He did some great things, and other games he wasn’t as good, but again, it’s not like a (upward) line.
It’s up and down, up and down, and you grow, right. I think he’s working hard, he’s doing everything we ask.
There are a lot of things on his plate right now, learning different things, and he’s grown, he’s getting better.”
The sample size is small, just two games to be exact, but veteran big man Nic Claxton’s presence was felt on both ends of the floor. Claxton, acquired in an offseason four-team trade, had been sidelined since the start of training camp with a strained hamstring.
He made his Bulls debut in the Sunday loss to the 76ers, coming off the bench because of minutes restrictions, and was again in that role against San Antonio.
Second-year forward Noa Essengue has particularly appreciated having Claxton behind him protecting the rim.
“That’s one of the best feelings, honestly,” Essengue said. “Because I know I can make a mistake because I have someone behind me to protect me, so it’s just amazing.
“I just know I can do a little more. I can put a little more pressure on the ball, try more deflections.”
Norman Powell missed his second consecutive game, still dealing with back spasms. The good news for the Bulls and their veteran shooting guard is that he may not be sidelined much longer.
“He’s around 70%, not ready to go, but expecting him to be ready next game,” Splitter said.
With Powell sidelined, the Bulls again turned to veteran wing Isaac Okoro, who also started Sunday’s game against the 76ers and finished with 12 points and a plus-1 in plus/minus.
