“It’s a little overwhelming. For anybody, change where you live, change your teammates,” said the mild-mannered Dillingham. “But, honestly, I feel like the team has made it easy for me. Coach has made it easy for me. Talked to me directly. I’m just happy to be here.”<\/p>\n
The guard was among the most highly touted prospects in the 2023 NBA Draft. He provided an incredibly efficient scoring season as a Kentucky Wildcat \u2013 the kind that is extremely abnormal for a freshman, no matter their class rank. With the Timberwolves in clear need of a backcourt partner for superstar Anthony Edwards, taking a chance on Dillingham No. 8 overall felt like a borderline no-brainer. <\/p>\n
![\"Rob](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/01kh1rbmvc1r60c4fq2j.jpg\" "\\"Rob")
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Mar 6, 2024; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Rob Dillingham (0) drives to the basket during the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Turns out, however, that dropping a 19-year-old onto a team with NBA Finals aspirations can come with its hiccups. While the environment can not sum up all of Dillingham’s struggles \u2013 his size, for instance, remains a real concern \u2013 there is no question that it created a hurdle. He needed developmental minutes that the win-now Timberwolves could not offer. He needed someone to show they believed in him. <\/p>\n
The Bulls did that on February 5. Becoming a recent haven for former castaway lottery picks, Dillingham is set to be their latest reclamation project. He may have been added to a comically long list of guards on the roster, but all signs point toward him sitting near the top of the priority list alongside fellow former college standout Jaden Ivey. <\/p>\n
Nonetheless, it’s going to take more than a simple change of scenery for Dillingham to become the player many once thought he could be. And the guard said as much in his initially blunt comments to Chicago media. <\/p>\n
\u201cReally just confidence, confidence from my teammates, confidence from my coaches, and really confidence in myself,” Dillingham said when asked what he needs to take the next step. “I really just feel like I haven\u2019t gotten to get a super opportunity where I feel confident. So really just gaining that back and understanding that I\u2019ve been working the whole time, so it\u2019s not like it just automatically left where I wasn\u2019t as good. I\u2019m just waiting for that spark to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Finding that spark can be hard to do, particularly as the Chicago winds continue to blow in mediocrity. But it’s also this kind of honesty that is needed for both Dillingham and the Bulls to move forward. The organization needs to know where the 21-year-old stands physically and mentally as this new era begins. And if it’s confidence he needs, it’s confidence the Bulls must instill. <\/p>\n
The Rob Dillingham Project Starts Now for Chicago Bulls![\"Rob](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/01kh1pjce0p7e8dr0j7k.jpg\" "\\"Rob")
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Dec 12, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham (4) looks to pass the ball against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-Imagn Images | Robert Edwards-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
To the Chicago Bulls’ credit, they wasted no time giving Rob Dillingham the opportunity he seemingly craves. <\/p>\n
The guard was available for the first time during Saturday night’s battle with the Denver Nuggets. While the newly acquired Collin Sexton and Nick Richards checked in off the bench first, Dillingham heard his name called with 3:39 left to go in the first quarter. It was only his ninth time this season playing in the opening frame. <\/p>\n
What followed may not have been the most eye-popping performance, but it was the kind that got better as the minutes went by. Dillingham drilled the triple that gave Chicago a surprise 46-44 lead over the Denver Nuggets in the second quarter. Then, he sliced through the Denver defense before finding a cutting Matas Buzelis for the slam. His bounce pass feed to Isaac Okoro roughly 30 seconds later helped the Bulls even the score in the third. <\/p>\n
Later in that same quarter, he weaved past multiple Nuggets before sending a tear-drop alley-oop to the cutting Nick Richards. He followed that up by pushing the tempo in transition and going right into the chest of Christian Braun for a trip to the charity stripe. <\/p>\n
Really fun set up here from Rob Dillingham. That\u2019s what you like to see in Game 1. <\/p>\n
(\ud83c\udfa5 @CHSN_Bulls<\/a>) \u2014 Elias Schuster (@Schuster_Elias) February 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Dillingham finished the night with 9 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal. Again, was it the kind of outing that convinced anyone he was destined for a breakout in Chicago? No. But you noticed Dillingham for all 22 minutes he was on the floor, which also marked his season-high. This alone was an encouraging sign, and the man of the hour agreed. <\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cA little bit toward the end,” Dillingham said after the game <\/a>about feeling more confident (h\/t Joel Lorenzi). “I’m really just happy I get to play. Play basketball, play hard, actually get to go out there. Definitely felt a lil spark, but got to keep it going.\u201d<\/p>\n Dillingham is right; Saturday was only Game 1 of what will be a long road to proving himself as a meaningful NBA contributor. The good news, though, is that it sounds like he has been given reason to believe that opportunities will continue to present themselves. Billy Donovan has kept a tight leash on his young players in the past, but Dillingham’s comments suggested that the next 28 games could be different.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, we want to win. But we can mess up here. It\u2019s not like, if we lose, you die,” Dillingham laughed<\/a> (h\/t Will Gottlieb). “Here playing with my teammates, everyone is new. Really they all just gave positive comments, positive thoughts, giving me confidence. Even coach giving me confidence, so playing with everyone it\u2019s great for sure.”<\/p>\n To be sure, the Bulls’ welcoming back Josh Giddey and Tre Jones from their respective hamstring strains will only crowd the backcourt further. Exactly what this will mean for Dillingham’s minutes will be something to monitor closely. However, all he can do is take advantage of this increased playing time for now, and his next chance to do precisely that will be Monday night in Brooklyn. <\/p>\n
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