Tiago Splitter Calls Out Caleb Wilson After Bulls’ Brutal Loss

Losing is already taking a toll on Bulls rookie forward Caleb Wilson.

On Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks steamrolled the Chicago Bulls 135-105.

It was the Bulls' seventh loss in eight games this season.

Midway through the third quarter, Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter had seen enough.

He benched Wilson for the remainder of the game.

Splitter did not like the rookie's offense.

He did not like the defense.

And he definitely did not like the body language.

"You got to be more resilient," Splitter said after the loss.

"The game is long and I try to put myself in his shoes."

"Caleb probably has never been in this situation in his life."

"He's always been on the winning side, winning games, and now you've got to be resilient even when you're down 20, 30, 40 (points), it doesn't matter."

"It's a learning experience for sure."

Splitter was 100 percent accurate on one point: Wilson has never been in this situation.

Before needing season-ending left hand surgery last year as a freshman at North Carolina, he helped lead the Tar Heels to a 19-5 record.

UNC had a two-game losing streak one time.

As a senior at Holy Innocents' Episcopal School, Wilson took the program to their first-ever Georgia state championship, posting a 27-4 record and dropping 33 points in the title game.

By the time Wilson and the Bulls play Atlanta next week, they realistically could have a 10th loss of the season in 11 games.

That would be one more loss than Wilson suffered in his previous two years of basketball combined.

"It's never been like this for me, but I've just got to figure out a way through it," Wilson admitted.

"Never been through this my whole life."

Wilson finished Wednesday's game with just 5 points.

He shot 5-for-15 from the field and 1-for-7 from the 3-point line.

It was a season low for the rookie, who entered the night averaging 19.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

After the game, Wilson sounded frustrated about more than just the score.

"I mean, today I didn't really get the ball much to start the game," Wilson said, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic.

"When I get the chance to, hopefully I can be aggressive."

The game was notable for one statistical oddity: every Bulls player scored.

It was the first time that had happened all season.

But the results still spoke for themselves.

Wilson acknowledged the difficulty of staying engaged when the offense does not run through him.

"It's kind of difficult out there right now because some games it's hard for me to get touches and things like that so I have to kind of figure out other ways to affect the game," Wilson said.

"It's hard to catch a rhythm that way but I'll figure it out."

Before outsiders start worrying that the Bulls have already broken the most talented first-year player they have had since Derrick Rose, take a breath.

Wilson already has.

"Of course I've got to be resilient and help us come back from those big deficits," Wilson said.

"I have before but I just didn't do that (Wednesday)."

Wilson also has veteran teammates willing to help.

After the loss in the locker room at Madison Square Garden, Norman Powell was giving Wilson a few tips and reminding him to keep his head up.

"I think he takes a lot on himself," Powell said.

Splitter is in his first season as Bulls head coach.

He took over the Portland Trail Blazers last season and helped lead a young team to the postseason.

The Bulls are in the midst of a serious rebuild, with a full-on new approach led by Splitter.