Bulls Rookie Noa Essengue to Miss Rest of Season After Left Shoulder Surgery
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Chicago Bulls rookie forward Noa Essengue will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign after opting for surgery on his injured left shoulder, head coach Billy Donovan told reporters on Wednesday.
Essengue sustained the injury during a recent Windy City Bulls G League game. The problem was initially labeled a shoulder contusion, but further evaluation convinced the team and player to pursue an operation.
Donovan estimated the recovery at “six to seven months,” noting that addressing the issue now prevents it from carrying over into the offseason.
The No. 12 pick in the 2025 draft appeared in only one NBA game this year, logging six minutes with one steal and one foul. In four outings with Chicago’s G League affiliate, the 6-foot-9 forward averaged 23.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 30.8 minutes.
According to Donovan, Essengue took the news well when the two spoke after Wednesday’s shootaround.
Source: Hoops Rumors
