The first Chicago Bulls player to step in front of a microphone after the team's opening Summer League practice wasn't Caleb Wilson nor Dailyn Swain. Instead, it was the Bulls' No. 12 pick from the 2025 NBA Draft. Noa Essengue had just wrapped up his first real practice in quite some time. The forward appeared in only two NBA games last year, as his Year 1 was cut short due to shoulder surgery. Throw in the fact that an entirely new front office and coaching staff have now stepped into the building, and it's been easy to forget that the forward is essentially also entering a high-stakes rookie season. Indeed, not only does Essengue have to make up for lost time, but he also has to find a way to win over a new brain trust. The organization added plenty of competition to the roster, picking up two more talented and versatile wings that could surely eat into the 19-year-old's playing time. To Essengue's credit, however, he didn't appear the least bit worried about the sudden logjam. The French native simply sounded thrilled to be back on the court, as well as more than willing to return to Summer League to brush off any rust. “Not playing for a year, that was a hard time, not going to lie.," Essengue said. "Just being back out there, finding a new feeling for basketball. I got a new shoulder, so I have to learn how to play again. I just want to be back on the court, compete every game. Summer League is a great time for that.”The Bulls will officially tip off their Las Vegas circuit on July 10 against the Memphis Grizzlies. Again, most eyes are bound to be on Wilson and Swain, but Essengue's minutes might as well be even more important to monitor. Shoulder surgery comes with a lengthy rehab for a reason, and returning to 100 percent both physically and mentally can take time. Especially when we consider how Essengue plays, we may be able to tell a lot about how he's feeling from one game. While he may not be the most physically imposing player, he's someone who does have a knack for getting to the free throw line and attacking hard in transition. Will he be any more hesitant to initiate that contact with his new shoulder? Will he look nearly as comfortable trying to finish around the rim? If one thing is for sure, his comments about learning to play again were quick to give some Bulls fans pause online. However, Essengue's words came off far more reasonable than concerning. He hasn't seen consistent contact yet and is only now returning to a normal practice schedule. The whole point of this period is to get him back up to speed and feeling in tip-top shape by October. “I would say I’m like 98 percent. I feel great," Essengue said. "I’m still working on my range of motion and all that, but I feel great.” Tiago Splitter Shares First Thoughts on Noa EssengueJun 17, 2026; Chicago, Il, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Noa