Since the 2025 NBA Draft, one of the more intriguing names on the Chicago Bulls roster has been the 18-year-old rookie out of France, Noa Essengue. However, through the first 10 games of the 2025–26 season, the Bulls’ first-round draft pick remains the only lottery selection yet to receive regular-season action. And it's not due to a lack of talent, either. It's simply a result of Chicago exceeding expectations early on, giving Billy Donovan little reason to shake up a rotation that’s had success.
Pair that with Donovan’s well-known philosophy on developing rookies, and Essengue’s lack of opportunity begins to make even more sense.