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Caleb Wilson honoring Derrick Rose will make him an instant fan favorite in Chicago

The former Tar Heel is quickly making friends in his new home.
ByCorey Long|
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Feb 23, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) and the bench react in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Feb 23, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Caleb Wilson (8) and the bench react in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Chicago, Caleb Wilson wants to be your guy!

Wilson, who was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the fourth overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft, wore a beautiful silver rose pin on his suit. That pin was a nod to former Bulls top pick Derrick Rose, who became the symbol of success for the franchise in the years following Michael Jordan.

The 6-foot-10 forward had been linked to the Bulls ever since the team was awarded that pick in the NBA Draft lottery. Wilson, who was named a second-team All-American after averaging 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds a game in his only season with North Carolina, is already winning over hearts in Chicago.

The former Tar Heel has already talked about achieving a level of greatness that can put him next to the program's most famous alum, Michael Jordan, and his latest gesture shows how much Wilson appreciates the opportunity to be a Bull and be the centerpiece of a contender in The Windy City.

READ MORE: Caleb Wilson had 48 million reasons to leave UNC despite his love for Chapel Hill

Caleb Wilson is wasting no time winning over Chicago Bulls fans

If Wilson wants to continue to honor Rose, there are a lot of ways to do it that will make him an instant legend in Chicago. Rose, who was a three-time All-Star, went on to win the NBA Rookie of the Year for the 2008-2009 season and became the youngest player to ever win the NBA MVP Award in 2011. According to FanDuel, Wilson has the fifth-best odds to win the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2026-27 (+950). 

Futures odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

More than anything, this shows that Wilson gets it. Unlike some lottery picks that want to conjure up a bunch of unnecessary drama as the draft approaches, Wilson wanted to celebrate the opportunity to play in Chicago and help lead the Bulls back to greatness. He has the type of infectious attitude that makes him easy to root for.

When Wilson was forced to miss the final weeks of the college basketball season, it wasn't just Tar Heel fans that lost out, it was any fan of basketball. Here's to hoping that Wilson can enjoy good health and lift the Bulls organization back to where it wants to be. The fans in Chicago deserve it, and we're all hoping that Wilson can deliver. 

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