Chicago Bulls rookie forward Noa Essengue debuted in the G League on Tuesday, leading the Windy City Bulls to a road victory over the Wisconsin Herd.
Essengue produced 28 points, eight rebounds and one assist in the 127-114 win at Oshkosh Arena. He finished by shooting 11-of-21 from the field, including 2-of-6 from 3-point range, and was a plus-eight in 29 minutes of action on assignment.
The 12th pick scored 23 points alone in the first half, helping Windy City build a 71-65 advantage at the intermission. He did the majority of his work in the paint after getting downhill and converting several tough finishes at the rim, while also connecting on a couple of 3-pointers.
Essengue has yet to suit up with Chicago in the regular season as the group has started with a 6-4 record through its first 10 games. The team has utilized a 9-10 man rotation for much of the early going, leaving Essengue and others out of the fold.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan said previously that Essengue would likely spend extensive time with Windy City to practice and log game action. With Chicago beginning a four-game road trip on Wednesday, Essengue will likely remain with Windy City to see additional reps.
Essengue was highly touted as a draft prospect out of France because of his size, rebounding and defensive versatility. The team has outlined a specific development plan for him and will closely monitor his progress throughout the season.