Caleb Wilson’s NBA Debut Ends in Heartbreaker as Cameron Boozer, Grizzlies Edge Bulls 97-96

Caleb Wilson made his NBA Summer League debut on Friday night in Las Vegas, and it came with about as much intrigue as a July exhibition game can carry. The Chicago Bulls forward and No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft squared off against Cameron Boozer’s Memphis Grizzlies in a one-point thriller, with the Grizzlies escaping 97-96 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

The matchup was billed as a rematch of one of college basketball’s fiercest rivalries. Wilson, a former five-star recruit who spent one season at North Carolina, and Boozer, who starred at Duke before being selected third overall by Memphis, split their two head-to-head meetings during the 2025-26 college season. Wilson’s Tar Heels stunned Boozer’s top-ranked Blue Devils 71-68 in February on a Seth Trimble buzzer-beater, with Wilson scoring 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting in that game. Duke got its revenge a month later, with Boozer dropping 26 points, 15 rebounds and five assists in a 76-61 win over the Tar Heels.

Wilson’s Bold Declarations Set the Stage

Wilson has not been shy about his expectations heading into his rookie season. At his introductory Bulls press conference in June, he declared he expects to win Rookie of the Year and referenced Michael Jordan’s legacy in Chicago, saying the franchise has “one of the GOATs” in its history and that “it’s time for another one.” He doubled down on his confidence ahead of Friday’s game against Boozer, telling reporters, “I played all of them. You know what happened when I played them, so it don’t really matter… I get to play them in summer league too.”

Wilson enters the league after a freshman campaign at North Carolina in which he averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 57.8% from the field. His season ended early after he fractured his left hand in February and then broke his right thumb during a non-contact dunking drill in March, sidelining him for the NCAA Tournament.

Boozer Enters with Summer League Experience Already Under His Belt

Unlike Wilson, Boozer arrived in Las Vegas having already logged Summer League minutes. The Grizzlies forward opened his professional career in the Salt Lake City Summer League, posting 15 points, four rebounds and four assists on 7-of-11 shooting in a blowout win over Oklahoma City, then followed with 18 points and seven rebounds in a loss to Utah. Boozer was the unanimous National Player of the Year at Duke last season after averaging over 22 points and 10 rebounds per game.

Friday’s game marked the first of back-to-back marquee matchups for Wilson and the Bulls against top-four picks from the 2026 draft class. Chicago is scheduled to face Darryn Peterson and the Utah Jazz next, followed by AJ Dybantsa and the Washington Wizards, giving Wilson a chance to measure himself directly against each of the players selected ahead of him.

Where the Rookie of the Year Race Stands

Boozer opened as the betting favorite for 2026-27 Rookie of the Year at +250 at BetMGM Promo Code, ahead of Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa at +400 apiece. Wilson opened as a bigger long shot at +1000, later tightening to around +800 as oddsmakers factored in his summer showing. Bettors looking to back Wilson or track how the market shifts after nights like Friday’s one-point classic can monitor the futures through the DraftKings Promo Code or FanDuel Promo Code boards, both of which list the full rookie award market alongside individual game lines for Summer League and the regular season ahead.

What Comes Next

Both Wilson and Boozer are widely viewed as building blocks for their respective rebuilding franchises. The Bulls hired Bryson Graham as vice president of basketball operations in April, and Wilson was his first draft selection as the team looks to reestablish an identity in Chicago. For now, the Summer League stage offers an early glimpse at whether the intensity of the Duke-North Carolina rivalry will carry over into the pros — and Friday’s one-possession finish suggests it might. Fans following the rookie race closely throughout the summer can also check Caesars Sportsbook Promo Code and FanDuel Sportsbook Review for updated lines as the NBA regular season approaches.