Rose Advises Wilson to Wait 25 Games

Former Bulls guard Derrick Rose says Caleb Wilson should hold off on judging the team's start until the 25-game mark.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Basketball

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Derrick Rose told NBC Chicago that rookie Caleb Wilson should wait until after 25 games before assessing the Chicago Bulls, who opened the 2026-27 season 1-7. The advice came as Wilson was benched midway through the third quarter of a game at Madison Square Garden, where he had scored 5 points.

Why it matters

Wilson, the No. 4 overall pick, is still early in his NBA career with only eight games played, and Rose's comments offer a veteran's perspective on patience during a difficult start. For Chicago fans, the stretch to 25 games will be the first real measure of how the young roster is developing.

The Bulls have opened 1-7 and Wilson is 17 games from the 25-game benchmark Rose cited, after eight career games and a 5-point night at Madison Square Garden. Whether the team's record and Wilson's minutes change over that stretch remains to be seen.

The players

Derrick Rose

Former NBA MVP and Chicago native whose comments on Wilson carry weight as a longtime Bulls figure.

Caleb Wilson

Fourth overall pick in the NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, navigating his early professional development.

Tiago Splitter

Bulls head coach who made the decision to bench Wilson during the game at Madison Square Garden.

The details

Rose shared the advice in a conversation with Natalie Spala of NBC Chicago, while spotting from courtside at the United Center. Wilson was removed by coach Tiago Splitter midway through the third quarter of the Knicks game, a move that followed his earlier comments about wearing a silver rose pin on draft night.

June 2026: Wilson wore a silver rose pin on his suit on draft night and commented on it.
November 4, 2026: Wilson scored 5 points before being benched at Madison Square Garden.
November 6, 2026: Rose's advice to Wilson was reported.

Season Trajectory

Rose's own path from Chicago's young guard to the 2008-09 MVP season shapes how he now frames Wilson's start. The advice to wait for 25 games places the rookie's early struggles within the longer arc of a season that will define the Bulls' direction.

Wilson's minutes and role over the next 17 games will show whether the team's early struggles are shifting. Fans tracking the roster can watch the 25-game benchmark as a concrete checkpoint for the rookie.

The takeaway

Rose's advice points to a simple lesson: early records rarely tell the full story for a young roster. Watching Wilson's development across the next 25 games offers a clearer read on what the Bulls are building.