The Chicago Bulls have made a significant move in the 2025 NBA Draft, selecting French forward Noa Essengue with the 12th overall pick. Essengue, standing at 6-foot-10, is notably the first international prospect and player from a European club to be drafted this year, and at 18 years old, he is also the second-youngest player in the draft class. His selection marks a pivotal moment for the Bulls, who have been looking to bolster their frontcourt with versatile talent.

Essengue's journey to the NBA Draft comes directly from a successful tenure with Ratiopharm Ulm, a German club he joined in July 2023. After spending his initial season primarily with Ulm’s developmental team, he quickly ascended to a key role for the senior squad this past season. He showcased his diverse skillset across 18 EuroCup appearances, averaging an impressive 12.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.1 assists, and 0.6 blocks in 23.7 minutes per game. His overall EuroCup stats across 25 games include 9.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals, while shooting 56 percent from the field. In the German BBL, he averaged 10.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks. Essengue was actively playing for Ratiopharm Ulm in the Basketball Bundesliga championship, where they held a 2-1 lead over Bayern Munich, until he traveled stateside for the draft.

As a prospect, Essengue is lauded for his mobility, rangy build, and exceptional athleticism for his size. He is considered a versatile power forward capable of guarding multiple positions, thanks to his length and speed, making him an immediate asset on the defensive end. Experts like Jonathan Givony of ESPN highlight his ability to “fill up the box score on both ends of the floor playing at a very high level of competition.” While he excels around the rim and can draw fouls effectively, leading to frequent free throw attempts, his perimeter shooting remains an area for development, which will be crucial for unlocking his full offensive potential.

ESPN initially ranked Essengue as the ninth-best prospect, suggesting the Bulls found significant value at pick 12. NBA Draft analyst James Fletcher III of On3, who ranked him 17th on his big board, noted Essengue as an “analytics darling” praising his defensive production and high-efficiency offensive looks in Europe. RotoWire.com further elaborated on his potential, suggesting that his ultimate ceiling could resemble Nicolas Batum if his jumper consistently develops, or Al-Farouq Aminu if it doesn’t. Given his age and European professional experience, Essengue is widely viewed as a long-term developmental investment for Chicago, allowing him time to adjust to the NBA game without immediate pressure for high-level contribution.

The Bulls' decision to draft Essengue aligns with their need for younger frontcourt help and players with size, as their roster is currently abundant with guards. Jeremy Woo of ESPN stated that Essengue “could give them an element of versatility and size at forward that the roster presently lacks, allowing them to potentially play a faster style.” While fan reactions have been mixed—some expressing a desire for a different type of big man, others celebrating his “insane upside”—Essengue is now an integral part of Chicago’s future roster construction plans. Prior to the draft, Essengue reportedly had a