2026 NBA Rookies Shine in Las Vegas as Caleb Wilson Drops Record 35 Points

Q: Caleb Wilson's record debut defied his college stats. Is his improved shooting for real or just a summer league illusion?

It looks more like a real improvement than a pure summer league mirage, but it is far too early to call Caleb Wilson a proven NBA shooter. The case for believing it starts with more than one hot night. Wilson’s 35-point debut for Chicago, with seven made 3s, was a dramatic jump from the 25.9% he shot from deep at North Carolina, but scouts had already seen touch in his game. Pre-draft evaluators pointed to his midrange shooting, face-up game and mechanics as signs the shot could eventually extend to the NBA line. One scout said if he gets to even 34% from three, he becomes “a nightmare.” Wilson also offered a plausible explanation for the college numbers. He said his role in UNC’s offense kept him mostly as a rim runner rather than a floor spacer, and he has spent the past 10 weeks putting up roughly 2,000 to 2,500 shots a day while recovering from injury. That does not prove the shot is fixed, but it does suggest the debut was not random. The caution is obvious. Summer League is a small sample in a loose, offense-friendly environment, and one 7-of-11 game does not erase a full season of limited college shooting. His free-throw line in the debut, 2-of-6, is also a reminder that the shooting profile is not settled. So the fairest read is this: Wilson’s jumper looks meaningfully better, and there is real evidence behind it, but he still has to show over months—not one night—that it holds up against regular-season NBA defenses.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jul 13

Caleb Wilson delivered the loudest Las Vegas debut, scoring a rookie-record 35 points for Chicago on 12-of-21 shooting and 7-of-11 from 3 after missing five months with a broken wrist.
AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson also validated their top-two billing: Dybantsa posted 27 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block in Washington's 92-88 win over Utah, while Peterson scored 24 despite 8 turnovers and 9 fouls.
Peterson had looked sharper in Salt Lake City, averaging 26.5 points on 52.8% shooting with 7.0 assists, while Dybantsa's early Vegas showing highlighted the two-way upside tied to his 7-foot wingspan.
Other first-rounders also flashed immediate promise, with Cameron Boozer putting up 23 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists for Memphis and Clippers No. 5 pick Wagler rebounding from a 7-point debut to score 23 against Utah.
The opening weekend suggested an unusually deep 2026 class, with Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer, Wilson and Darius Acuff already emerging as early candidates to make instant NBA impacts.