Noa Essengue: Chicago’s Swing at a New Era
A football guy talking about basketball
Well you might be wondering why I am writing a basketball piece, especially for the Chicago Bulls of all teams. But, this piece was a passion project that I wanted to do for my friend. So buckle up, because you are about to read a basketball analysis on a prospect that is harder to find film or analysis on than it is to find a Bulls playoff series win post-2015. (sorry David)
Noa Essengue isn’t just another draft name that flashes across the ticker on draft night and disappears into the G League ether. He’s one of the most intriguing, mysterious, and high-upside swings in this year’s draft, the type of player who forces you to dig through sparse EuroCup footage, translate obscure German box scores, and squint at grainy highlight reels just to understand the outline of his potential.
So uh who is he?
The Chicago Bulls are rebuilding…..again. But this time, they’re not reaching for band-aid veterans or banking on a quick fix. Instead, they’re betting big on raw potential, versatile length, and the magic word every modern NBA GM loves: upside.
Their boldest statement yet? Drafting 18-year-old French forward Noa Essengue with the 12th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Essengue isn’t your typical teenage prospect. At 6'10" with a 7'1" wingspan and weighing just under 200 pounds. He spent last season with Ratiopharm Ulm, splitting time in Germany’s Basketball Bundesliga and the EuroCup.
The stats? Solid: 12.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.4 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game on 56% shooting. His 29.4% clip from deep? A red flag (more on that later).
Essengue’s scouting report reads like a mixtape of today’s most creative wings: flashes of Pascal Siakam’s slashing, Scottie Barnes’ positional fluidity, and Kawhi Leonard’s defensive tenacity (minus the giant hands).
And the biggest kicker? He’s the second-youngest player in this draft class, barely three days older than No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg. Translation: the Bulls have time on their side.
Physical Profile and Tools
Standing 6'10", weighing 198 pounds, and boasting a 7'1" wingspan, Essengue has a rare blend of size and agility. His explosive first step, vertical leaping ability, and fluid lateral movement allow him to impact games on both ends.
The major caveat: he’s lean. At under 200 pounds, he will need to add muscle to survive NBA physicality, particularly on the interior. But his frame suggests capacity to comfortably add 10-20 pounds without sacrificing mobility, an important factor in projecting his growth.
Offensive Skill Set
Transition Scoring
This is where Essengue thrives. Whether it’s sprinting the floor for lobs, finishing through contact, or hammering home putbacks, he thrives when the game gets fast and chaotic. In EuroCup, he scored 1.3 points per possession in transitionl, an elite mark that puts him in the "run-and-dunk" All-Stars category.
Half-Court Play
Here’s where things get interesting, and, for now, a bit messy. Essengue loves attacking closeouts with his long strides and using quick spin moves or floaters. But he’s still raw as a creator. His handle is serviceable against European defenders but loose when facing serious ball pressure.
Shooting?
Let’s just say it’s... developing. He hit 29.4% from three in the EuroCup and has a release that sometimes looks like it’s buffering mid-shot. But a promising 77.8% from the free-throw line suggests hope, plus, at 18, there’s more room to tweak his form.
Defensive Skill Set
Switchable Versatility
Essengue’s defensive profile is arguably his most exciting trait. With his 7'1" wingspan and lateral agility, he can credibly guard positions 3 through 5 and handle switches onto wings and some guards. In EuroCup, he recorded 1.4 steals per game, highlighting his disruptive instincts and feel for jumping passing lanes.
Weak-Side Rim Protection
Though not a dominant rim protector (0.6 blocks per game), he shows excellent timing and verticality as a help defender. His lean frame limits his ability to hold position against traditional bigs, but his anticipation and quick second jumps make him a threat to alter shots from the weak side.
Weaknesses
Here’s the reality check. Essengue’s shot is a work in progress. A 29.4% three-point clip and mechanical inconsistencies suggest he’ll struggle to space the floor early on. In today’s NBA, a forward who can’t threaten from deep is basically wearing a neon sign that says, “Sag off me.”
He also lacks the muscle to consistently bang inside with NBA bigs. At 198 pounds, he’s closer to a tall wing than a true power forward, and he’ll get bullied in the post if thrown into heavy minutes too soon.
The rawness doesn’t end there: he’s not yet a true shot-creator in the half court and can disappear offensively if he isn’t fed in transition.
Fit in Chicago
The Bulls have officially left the "let’s try to make this work with DeRozan and LaVine one more time" era behind. They’re building around youth and length.
Immediate Role: Expect Essengue to play 10–20 minutes a night off the bench as an energy forward, possibly splitting time with Windy City Bulls to refine his shooting and handle.
Small-Ball Looks: Billy Donovan might even experiment with Essengue at small-ball 5, especially in lineups designed to switch everything. Imagine a closing five of Giddey, White, Okoro, Buzelis, and Essengue, it’s the basketball version of an octopus: arms everywhere.
Long-Term Role: The dream scenario is Essengue evolving into a All-Defense level forward by 2028, playing next to Buzelis in a modern, hyper-flexible frontcourt. The two of them could become one of the league’s scariest defensive duos
Challenges
Chicago’s newfound collection of long, switchable wings is cool in theory, but who actually plays? With Patrick Williams (likely to be re-signed), Dalen Terry, Julian Phillips, Okoro, Buzelis, and now Essengue all jockeying for forward minutes, Donovan might need a second rotation chart and a headache prescription.
Meanwhile, outside shooting remains a ticking time bomb. Beyond White and an aging Vučević, the Bulls lack consistent floor-spacers. Essengue’s development as a shooter is crucial. If he stagnates there, the offense risks collapsing into a congested, paint-only slugfest.
The Lonzo Ball Ripple Effect: Enter Isaac Okoro
Just days after drafting Essengue, Chicago shipped Lonzo Ball to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro. The move underscores a new defensive-first mandate. Okoro, a former No. 5 pick, brings perimeter defense and just enough shooting (37% from three) to keep defenses honest, albeit in low volume.
While fans mourn the loss of Ball’s high-IQ passing and what-could-have-been allure, his recurring injuries made this a pragmatic, if uninspired, decision. Okoro joins Essengue, Buzelis, and Giddey in creating a defensive web that could “theoretically” smother wings and force turnovers.
The Path Forward: Patience Required
In a league obsessed with instant gratification (like the NFL), Noa Essengue is a living reminder that sometimes, the best investments take years to truly blossom. Like the Oklahoma City Thunder’s methodical rebuild, the Bulls are betting on the power of patience and internal development rather than quick fixes.
The Thunder’s 64-win season and NBA championship run in 2024-25 didn’t arrive overnight, it was the culmination of years spent nurturing a young, versatile core. OKC allowed players like Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Josh Giddey to grow at their own pace, even using the G League as a crucial stepping stone.
Chicago appears ready to follow that blueprint. Essengue might spend significant time in the G League with the Windy City Bulls during his rookie year, working on his shooting mechanics, ball-handling under pressure, and adding strength. He’s not expected to carry major NBA minutes immediately, and that’s by design. The Bulls are building a modern, flexible core around Josh Giddey, Coby White, Matas Buzelis, Isaac Okoro, and now Essengue, a young group meant to grow together and hit their peak years in unison.
If Chicago plays the long game, stays disciplined, and gives Essengue the runway to develop as OKC did with Holmgren and Williams, the payoff could be significant: a dynamic, switch-heavy roster that thrives in transition and boasts multiple two-way threats. In a few years, a lineup featuring Giddey’s playmaking, White’s scoring punch, Buzelis’s offensive versatility, and Essengue’s defensive chaos could turn Chicago into one of the most exciting young teams in the league, the kind of group that can finally compete deep into the postseason.
For now, Essengue is exactly what he looks like: a raw, high-upside teenager with giant arms, a motor that doesn’t quit, and a jumper that absolutely needs to start falling.
Whether he becomes Chicago’s next star or another tantalizing “what-if” depends on development, patience, and a little bit of basketball fate.
Final Thoughts
The Bulls' 2025 draft strategy, symbolized by Essengue, is a clear pivot away from win-now illusions. Instead, they’re chasing long wings, fast breaks, and defensive clamps.
He might frustrate you early with clanked jumpers, blown assignments, the occasional "why did he do that?!" moment. But patience is the price of admission for potential greatness.
It might not translate into immediate wins, and it definitely won’t make sense on paper for at least a year. But if Chicago finally commits to patience (a rare commodity in this city), they might have found the blueprint for the next great Bulls era.
Until then, buckle up. The journey with Noa Essengue might be messy, but it promises to be anything but boring.