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Bulls insider sends patient warning to fans about Noa Essengue after injury return in Summer League
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- Bulls insider sends patient warning to fans about Noa Essengue after injury return in Summer League
Bulls insider sends patient warning to fans about Noa Essengue after injury return in Summer League appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Noa Essengue 's rookie season with the Chicago Bulls ended during the first half of last season due to a shoulder injury.
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He is making his comeback during the 2026 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Essengue returned to the floor last Friday against the Memphis Grizzlies . He came away with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 blocks in a 97-96 loss.
While those numbers are promising, K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Sports Network made it clear to Bulls' fans that Essengue's return will be a "process", per 104.3 The Score.
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"He has an awareness of how to play," Johnson said. "He gets deflections, he's got length, defensively, I thought he was in the right place a lot. But it's going to be a process for him."
Essengue, 19, was drafted by the Bulls as the No. 12 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. He had played for professional clubs in his home country of France and in Germany from 2021 to 2024.
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He also played for the French under-18 national team at the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket tournament.
Essengue had one standout performance against the Indiana Pacers during the 2025 NBA Summer League. He scored 21 points, grabbed 3 rebounds, and was 3-for-3 from 3-point range in an 114-105 win. Altogether, Essengue averaged 12.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game and shot 41.9% from the field in three appearances.
In his first year, Essengue played two games in Chicago before injuring his shoulder. He then played four games for the Windy City Bulls in the NBA G League. Altogether, Essengue averaged 23 points and 8.5 rebounds per game while playing 30.8 total minutes.
Essengue is a mix of quickness, defensive versatility, and off-ball movement at 6-foot-10.
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