With the 12th overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls selected Noa Essengue. This was a heavily criticized move from the beginning, mainly because Derik Queen, a player heavily favored by head coach Billy Donovan and the majority of Chicago's fanbase, was still on the board. In addition, Essengue was one of the youngest, rawest, and least proven talents in the draft. A quarter of the way through the Bulls' season, the rookie only saw six minutes of NBA action, and his only recorded statistics were three missed field goals, one steal, and one foul. Before tonight's matchup with the Brooklyn Nets, Donovan announced a heartbreaking shock about his rookie forward.
Noa Essengue Out For The Season
Chicago's first-year forward is officially out for the year. With his rookie season in the books, he saw the floor in two games, for six minutes of action, and was a non-factor for the Bulls. His limited action in the NBA showed nothing promising, and did not earn him playing time for the foreseeable future. This injury, coupled with his abysmal debut on the grand stage, makes Arturas Karnisovas's decision on draft night severely regrettable. After initially suffering what was called a "shoulder contusion" at the G-League level on Sunday night, it has now turned into a disaster.
Injury Update: Noa Essengue will have shoulder surgery and will miss the remainder of the season, per Billy Donovan. pic.twitter.com/ej2he33HCF
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) December 3, 2025
This is a tough blow for the rookie. After two forgettable performances, his first year has come to a close. At the G-League level, he appeared in four games and averaged 23.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per contest. Hopefully, he can build on that success when his sophomore campaign begins in the fall of 2026.
Arturas Karnisovas With Another Blunder
Holding the injury against Karnisovas is unfair and irresponsible. However, given the body of work that Essengue had produced at the NBA level through three months of the season, things were not going well. After playing against the New Orleans Pelicans and witnessing firsthand what Derik Queen has done for that franchise, after being selected following Chicago's passing on him, it is gut-wrenching for the Bulls' fan base. Queen will likely land on the NBA All-Rookie First Team, while Essengue will get another crack at his first legitimate NBA opportunity next season.
Noa Essengue Full Rookie Year Highlights pic.twitter.com/EyOXkVR7ax
— Ross Pins (@chisportsross) December 3, 2025
After shutting down Essengue for the year, Chicago is now without their primary developmental project for the foreseeable future. As unfortunate as it is, he was not going to contribute at the professional level yet, and his injury does not play a factor for how poorly the team has been performing, or where the trajectory of the season will finish.
