The Chicago Bulls’ first draft class under Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Bryson Graham will take its next step in Las Vegas next month when the organization’s newest players make their on-court debut during the 2026 NBA Summer League.
For fans eager to see the franchise’s rebuilding plan begin to take shape, Summer League offers more than exhibition basketball. It provides the first opportunity to evaluate how first-round picks Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain fit alongside second-year guard Kam Jones, acquired by Chicago in a draft-night trade with the Indiana Pacers, and the rest of the Bulls’ emerging young core.
Chicago opens Summer League play July 10 against the Memphis Grizzlies before facing the Utah Jazz on July 13, the Washington Wizards on July 14 and the Los Angeles Lakers on July 16. The NBA will determine each team’s fifth opponent after the opening four games.
While Summer League standings rarely predict regular-season success, the event has become an important developmental tool across the NBA. For the Bulls, the games will provide an early look at the style of basketball first-year head coach Tiago Splitter hopes to establish while giving coaches an opportunity to evaluate chemistry, defensive communication and player development in competitive situations.
Among the biggest storylines will be Wilson’s first professional games.
The fourth overall selection enters Summer League carrying considerable expectations after arriving in Chicago with a reputation as one of the draft’s most versatile forwards. During his introductory news conference Friday, Wilson made it clear he intends to embrace those expectations rather than shy away from them.
“I expect to have Rookie of the Year,” Wilson said. “I’m going to work hard and do what it takes. I think the team is really good for me and how I envision playing. I know I’m a hard worker, so whatever I need to fix before the season, I’m going to work on so I can become a great player.”
Summer League also presents Wilson with intriguing matchups against several of the players frequently mentioned alongside him throughout the draft process.
Chicago opens against Memphis and No. 3 overall pick Cameron Boozer before meeting Utah and No. 2 selection Darryn Peterson. The Bulls then face Washington and No. 1 overall pick AJ Dybantsa, creating three highly anticipated contests featuring many of the draft’s top prospects.
Although Wilson downplayed outside comparisons during Friday’s media session, he acknowledged his competitive nature and welcomed opportunities to face fellow members of the draft class.
“I played all of them,” Wilson said. “Whatever needs to be done to prove that I’m on the same level or that I’m better, we’ll do it.”
Swain also will receive his first opportunity to demonstrate the defensive versatility and athleticism that made him one of the Bulls’ top targets in the first round.
The 6-foot-8 wing is expected to spend significant time defending multiple positions while continuing to develop his offensive game, responsibilities that mirror the role Chicago envisions for him during the regular season.
Dailyn Swain and Caleb Wilson
Jones may have the greatest opportunity to make an immediate impression.
Unlike many Summer League participants, Jones already owns NBA experience after appearing in 37 games with Indiana last season. His familiarity with the professional game could make him one of Chicago’s primary ball handlers in Las Vegas while providing leadership for a roster filled with rookies and young players.
Summer League also marks the first extended opportunity for Splitter and his coaching staff to begin implementing the principles they hope will define the Bulls moving forward.
Throughout draft week, Graham repeatedly emphasized competitiveness, basketball intelligence and unselfishness as qualities the organization prioritized when evaluating prospects. Summer League provides the first chance to see those principles tested against NBA competition.
The format also raises the stakes beyond player evaluation.
All 30 NBA teams will play four games between July 9 and July 16. The four teams with the best records will advance to the Summer League semifinals on July 18, with the championship game scheduled for July 19. Teams that do not qualify for the semifinals will each play a fifth game.
Every Summer League produces standout performances that generate excitement entering training camp, but Bulls officials are likely to place greater emphasis on progress than final scores.
For a franchise committed to building through youth, player development and long-term roster flexibility, the most meaningful victories may come in the form of improved decision-making, defensive consistency and the chemistry developing among Chicago’s newest players.
The wins and losses in Las Vegas will soon be forgotten.
How the Bulls’ young core grows together, however, could help shape the direction of the franchise for years to come.