Tiago Splitter Calls Out Caleb Wilson for Hustling Only When Losing Big

Tiago Splitter issued a direct challenge to rookie Caleb Wilson after the Chicago Bulls' 135-105 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

The Bulls head coach said he expects Wilson to keep playing hard regardless of the scoreboard.

"The game is long, I try to put myself in their shoes," Splitter said, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic.

"Caleb probably never been in these situations in his life."

"He's always been on the winning side."

"Now you gotta be resilient and play hard even when down 20, 30, 40."

"Doesn't matter."

The challenge came after a rough night for the 20-year-old rookie.

Wilson finished with just 5 points, shooting 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 game averaging 19.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Splitter benched Wilson midway through the third quarter.

He didn't like the offense.

He didn't like the defense.

And he definitely didn't like the body language.

After the game, Wilson sounded frustrated about his role in the offense.

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

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

The Bulls are now 1-7 on the season.

They are in the midst of a serious rebuild under Splitter, who is in his first season as head coach.

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

This is unfamiliar territory for Wilson.

Tiago Splitter Calls Out Caleb Wilson for Hustling Only When Losing Big

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.

They posted a 27-4 record.

He dropped 33 points in the title game.

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

"Never been through this my whole life."

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

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

One more loss than Wilson suffered in his previous two years of basketball combined.

"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)."

"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."

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

The tension between a rookie star and his first-year head coach is playing out in public.

Wilson is the most talented first-year player the Bulls have had since Derrick Rose.

He is the franchise player.

He understands the expectations.

"I think he takes a lot on himself," one veteran teammate said, per the Chicago Sun-Times.

Norman Powell was giving Wilson tips in the locker room after the loss.

Powell reminded him to keep his head up.