Dec. 6: The Bulls have officially announced that Essengue will undergo season-ending surgery, Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic tweets.
Dec. 3: Bulls rookie Noa Essengue will require surgery to address a left shoulder injury and is expected to miss the remainder of the season, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network (Twitter link).
The update comes from head coach Billy Donovan, who had previously noted that Essengue suffered the injury, which was initially diagnosed as a shoulder contusion, in a G League contest.
“Usually those things are six to seven months,” Donovan said of Essengue’s recovery timeline, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic (Twitter link). The Bulls’ coach added that the team preferred to address the injury now rather than let it linger into the offseason.
After being selected 12th in the 2025 draft, Essengue played just six minutes for the Bulls in his rookie season, recording one steal and one foul in that time.
He appeared in four games for the Windy City Bulls G League team, where he averaged 23.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 30.8 minutes per game.
According to Johnson (via Twitter), Donovan said he had spoken with Essengue after shootaround, and that he was handling the news well.
That draft pick just keeps getting stupider and stupider.
L M F A O I have no words. I give up man.
Feel free to use mine. They work.
We will get banned if we use your words Mike lol.
Is it this bad?
I mean I would have drafted him but injuries happen and it is not like he would help them win games this year
?? Redundant info
He was already out for the season !
Bad case of Donovanitis
There goes my fantasy team
What do I say about drafting 18-19 yr olds …..
They all should be in G-league the first year. Minimum …. I mean what’s theh. No 18-19 year old is getting his manbod till after 22. Unless you are Bron or Zion ……. Derrick Queen — 6’10”, 250 lbs
22 gms, 24.4 mibs, 6.2 reb, 3.5 ast, 12.3 pts
Reach out to teams Al. I’m sure every team in the league would be monitoring and valuing your input.
I missed my calling lol ……✌️
Me too
Have you read the article, Al?
The guy got injured playing in the G-League.
My wife worked for a sports club in Europe, my cousin played soccer professionally on a decent level. I know from them that players on youth levels are getting the same rate and severity of injuries as those who play for senior teams. My cousin’s career was cut short by an injury he got playing in a U-21 game.
Just because they’re out of sight in the G-League it doesn’t mean that they don’t get injured.
Your comment is the only intelligent comment in this thread. An injury can happen to anyone anywhere. Essengue isn’t injury prone. Stuff just happens. That’s life. Not AKME or Donovan’s fault.
Yeah but that’s not the point. All these young draft picks today are 18-19 yr olds. As lottery picks or #1 picks they are a big investment. There is no need to rush any of them. Especially cause they still are kids …… body wise. 90% of men don’t get their adult bodies till after 22. Talent won’t save you from stronger bodies moving just as fast or faster than you. Its just common sense to ease a young player in.
If you look at the numbers since 18-19 yr olds have been drafted. It shows it takes 3-5 yrs before they impact the game. Then they have to prove they are long term talents. So why would you push them their first two yrs. Imo every 18-19 yr olds must play a yr in G-league. They can learn your system there.
The G league now is basically two short runs. 16 gm tournament. Then a 36 gm season. Draft picks can play all 50 gms and still be eligible to play 32 NBA games. Your picks can play in G-league first yr. And still be a rotation guy for end of season, playoffs. Again what’s the RUSH ….
You see Nembhard in Dallas a 4 yr college player. Who is better Now than he has ever been.
Or better yet, The gist of my comment, Why would you draft him OVER a guy who already has an NBA body AND filled an area of need, AND SHOULD have been picked? Morons. johnm is not very bright obviously.
Who would you have drafted instead of Essengue Bright Boy?
OKC drafted 19 yar old Thomas Sorber. Sorber tore his ACL and is out for the season. Is OKC stupid?
Obviously you can’t read or comprehend what you read because I’ve said it like 1000 times and even before the draft that they should take Derik Queen if he was there and everyone said he’d be gone. Then he was there and they took this D-Bag who we now find out was already injured. Take an English reading comprehension course.
Derik Queen last night. 33 points, 10 boards, 10 assists. Yes Essengue was the right pick for sure Einstein.
So what is your point?
You’re trying to say that young players should all be playing in the G-League? Essengue got a season-ending injury in the G-League.
You’re saying that it’s safer to play in the G-League or other lesser competitions? I’m telling you that it’s not. The rate of injury in those competitions is the same.
Another intelligent comment. A torn ACL can happen at a YMCA. Essengue has to play somewhere.
Cooper Flagg
Bulls were trading him for a second rounder before this.
Just another of many total reaches that the seems to be the Bulls Choice at every draft. The Bulls front office believes without a doubt that any player they draft from Europe or who lays for some obscure Division 3 school in Nome AK, will be the next ______ fill in the blank and by that year three is sent pack for a 2nd round pick, which is protected from 30-59