The Chicago Bulls are off to an impressive start. Missing Coby White, they’re leading the Eastern Conference at 6-1. They’ve done so without anything from their rookie class. Noa Essengue and Lachlan Olbrich have contributed very little amid this hot start. Obviously, the Bulls are doing just fine without that, but it’s not an ideal situation for the team either way. The future matters, too, and one insider believes the Bulls added almost nothing to the future in the draft.
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NBA insider criticizes Chicago Bulls’ rookie class
Oct 16, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard/forward Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) defends Chicago Bulls forward Noa Essengue (24) during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
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It’s a good thing for a team to be so good and not need their first-round lottery pick at all. However, since the Chicago Bulls aren’t necessarily overflowing with All-Stars at this point, it is easy to imagine how good they could be if they picked someone who was playing and good at this stage in the draft. Instead, they got Noa Essengue, and he hasn’t played.
Bleacher Report insider Greg Swartz gave them an F, which is the worst grade out of all teams. No one else has an F. “Despite being selected at No. 12 overall, Noa Essengue has yet to log an NBA minute and has been sent to practice with the G-League’s Windy City Bulls ahead of their season opener on Saturday,” Swartz wrote. “An immediate impact would have been nice, although the Bulls claim this was their plan all along.”
Billy Donovan said that this is an 18-year-old player with a “huge runway” to improve, but that the Bulls are going to invest in his development. That means zero NBA minutes right now, although that could change in the future. This was, according to the coach, discussed all the way back in June.
“Essengue is the only lottery pick to not play in a game yet this season. The only other first-rounders who have failed to see the court are Thomas Sorber (out for the year with a torn ACL) and Kasparas Jakučionis (groin injury),” Swartz continued. “This isn’t a good start for Chicago’s lottery pick, no matter how the team spins it.”
NBA: Draft
To be totally fair, Essengue was always seen as a toolsy, upside pick. At 18, it’s no surprise that the Bulls haven’t used him yet. He hasn’t been needed, which is good for the team. It’s just hard to argue against the criticism since this draft class has brought literally nothing to the table so far.
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