Ricky O'Donnell
@rickyodonn
Basketball at all levels + programming associate director for SB Nation
Thinking about how Mitski had one of the most clairvoyant album titles ever as I walk around in the air that feels like smoking two packs of cigarettes at once
Splitter has him in the doghouse already for no reason. His summer league numbers are just fine and his defense flashed in a big way the first two games. Staggering him and Caleb makes no sense considering the rest of these guys are useless (outside of Swain who has been even worse)
Caleb Wilson's three-point rate at UNC: 9% Caleb Wilson's three-point rate in summer league: 47% 3Pr is the stat that translates best from SL to regular season, per Owen Phillips. I'm convinced Caleb is going to shoot a lot of threes as a rookie, and probably shoot them well.
@bobbyloesch.bsky.social I was gonna text you this but my phone isn't near me
Sky vs. Storm 11 a.m. hoops with a lot of screaming children in attendance. Very cool they do these camp days for the kids. I had to come see Dominique Malonga, Awa Fam, and Flau’jae
Liked what I saw out of Noa Essengue. Four blocks, two steals, two offensive rebounds, only one turnover. He's going to challenge a lot of shots with his length, and looks confident driving with his strong hand. Also continues to be a foul magnet. Gotta start making free throws.
Cam Boozer pick-and-roll handler into pull-up middy whew that's tough
Caleb Wilson terrible turnover but absolutely wild chasedown block holy moly
Dailyn Swain gets downhill out of the pick-and-roll, hangs, and finishes
Caleb Wilson brings it up against full court pressure and rises into the pull-up middy
Caleb Wilson pull-up three (??) to start it off for the SummerBulls. Didn't see that much at UNC.
Morez is such a freight train and being able to drive from the wing like this will be a game-changer for him. Poor Lachy got run over.
Nikola Kusturica is an elite slasher for a 17-year-old wing, but his motor might be the most impressive part of his game. I'd have him No. 2 right now in significantly too early 2028 NBA mock draft.
From Cooper Flagg to Cameron Boozer to Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, Duke's scouting is as good as it gets. You can keep anyone from the 2027 draft. I'll take JBB in 2028.
As a Noa Essengue true believer, I can't wait to see what he looks like in summer league. Now listed at 6'11. He measured 3/4ths of inch taller than Caleb at the combine, and sure looks like he's quite a bit taller than that.
How many guys in NBA history have peaked in their early 30s like Norman Powell? He's 33 and the arrow is somehow still pointing up.
Literally the same reasoning as when they sold the No. 38 pick in 2017. Dillon Brooks and Isaiah Hartenstein both went a few picks later. The Reinsdorfs laughing all the way to the bank both times.
Got nothing but more free podcast advertising. New episode on Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain, and Nic Claxton out now wherever you get your podcasts.
This is the last time I’m promoting this. Thanks to anyone who read it. Caleb Wilson is a Bull.
I'll change my tune on Claxton if he actually starts to rebound again. He's been one of the worst rebounding centers in the league lately. Being terrible on the glass while also not taking threes and being a 55% career free throw shooter is a tough sell for me.
Thanks to @chgo-bulls.bsky.social for having me on to talk about my Caleb Wilson feature. I think I got a lot of good intel on him.
