Draft Prospect Caleb Wilson Says Kobe Bryant Remains His Biggest Basketball Inspiration

Bryant was a prolific scorer known for his mastery of the midrange, so learning from the best makes sense for the young star.

Wilson has the potential to fall between No. 2 and No. 4 in the NBA Draft. But as far as his defensive skills are concerned, he is arguably the best in his class.

The North Carolina player has also invested himself in the 1990s era, featuring the Bad Boy Pistons and Michael Jordan. He also finds himself closely following Milwaukee Bucks big man Giannis Antetokounmpo.

“Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, too, the Bad Boy [Detroit] Pistons. I mean, I watch a lot of [Jordan] too. Lately I’ve been watching Giannis [Antetokounmpo] a lot. I feel like closer and closer, I get to the NBA, my athleticism and my size translate to his skill-set. So, I watch a lot of him, but that’s pretty much it.”

Wilson is gifted with athleticism and ‌elite defensive skills. He is potentially the most versatile and well-rounded player in the draft class and can easily turn defense into offense.

The budding star even had a message for the teams in the draft.

Caleb Wilson Sends a Message to Selectors Before the NBA Draft

Wilson doesn’t have a preferred franchise in the NBA Draft. He is most likely to be drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 3 or the Chicago Bulls at No. 4. The North Carolina star has just one thing in mind and has sent an early message to recruiters.

The 6-ft-10 forward said that he would be coming to any team that selects him to put them on the map.

“I’m gonna change their franchise. I’m gonna change the culture of their program, and I’m gonna change the city, honestly,” Wilson said during an interview with ESPN2 at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. 

He also made a powerful statement about his mentality, comparing his motivation to that of Michael Jordan. 

“I always find something to make it personally, honestly,” he added.

“Just like Michael Jordan, I try my best to find something to p*** me off. That’s just what I do.”

In his freshman year with North Carolina, he averaged 19.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.4 blocks in 24 games. In the 2026 Mock Draft, several outlets have predicted his pick to be between the second and fourth overall.