One of the biggest moments of his life around the corner. With the 2026 NBA Draft arriving on June 23, there's no question that UNC standout Caleb Wilson won't have to wait long to hear his name called. Leading up to things, though, his future NBA home isn't the only thing on Wilson's mind. His hatred for Duke is also on the list?
Billy Donovan passing on UNC may have just cost him big time for next season
That's indeed the case, as Wilson's love for North Carolina will never go away, meaning his dislike for the team over in Durham won't be a tattoo that washes off either. In a pre-draft interview, Wilson did not hold back with a simple message for the Blue Devils. Straight up, he doesn't like them at all:
The UNC vs. Duke rivalry is still alive & well for Caleb Wilson 😂
— NBA Future Starts Now (@nbafuturenow) June 17, 2026
Watch the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23-24!
Tuesday, 6/23: First Round, 8pm/et on ABC/ESPN
Wednesday, 6/24: Second Round, 8pm/et on ESPN pic.twitter.com/A8omzZHrcS
Caleb Wilson throwing shade at Duke before the NBA Draft is something UNC fans will love
Say it with passion, Caleb! From a UNC standpoint, yeah, this is pretty dang funny. Duke fans are probably going to be quick to disagree with that sentiment, but we don't really care about that right now. Even before he suited up for the Heels during his remarkable freshman season, Wilson always had choice words for UNC's biggest rival.
Now that he's off to the pros too, he has no problem delivering a jab at them every now and then. With that, though, the question begs: where will Wilson be taking his talents to at the next level? Obviously, nothing is set in stone there, but plenty of signs are pointing to him making a move to Chicago.
The Bulls have reportedly shown strong interest in taking Wilson off the board at No. 4 overall, which included bringing him in for a meeting with brass ahead of the draft. Sure, there could be a surprise come draft night, but we have a feeling the Bulls aren't going to think twice about rocking with Wilson.
Should he make the move to The Windy City, Wilson will work to make the same kind of impact in the community like he did in Chapel Hill. We don't have to tell you that Wilson won everyone over in town, as his bubbling personality was matched by his spectacular play on the hardwood.
He said goodbye to campus by playing a memorable pickup game with students, something those who faced him will never forget. The only negatives from Wilson's time with Carolina were the injuries, plus the fact that we only got to enjoy him for one season. In terms of bragging rights, he can always say that he was undefeated vs. Duke during his college days.
He can thank fellow playmaker Seth Trimble for that, as the guard's game-winning 3-pointer will be played over and over again for the years to come. And while Wilson is now getting ready to make his NBA dreams come true, it doesn't mean, even for a second, that he's going to forget about UNC. With that, his true feelings about the Blue Devils aren't going away either, and you better believe he'll be ready to troll them once again next season when the two teams face off.
