Although Noa Essengue only suited up for three of the Chicago Bulls’ five summer league contests, his performance was a roller coaster. In a 116-72 drubbing by the hands of the Toronto Raptors to open the exhibition season, Essengue scored merely five points, converting 2-of-7 field goals and turning the ball over seven times.

The 18-year-old forward looked shell-shocked against the physical Raptors’ Summer League squad. It was evident he wasn’t ready for the NBA’s pace and physicality.

Noa Essengue displayed palpable improvements in summer league

However, in only 19 minutes against the Sacramento Kings, Essengue appeared to have already caught on to the NBA’s elevated physicality. He scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Perhaps most importantly, the Frenchman turned the ball over only once.

Then, in Essengue’s final summer league performance, he offered a glimpse into why he was a lottery pick in the first place. The 6-foot-10 forward scored 21 points, to go along with three rebounds and an assist. Essengue converted 7-of-14 field goals, 3-of-8 triples, and 4-of-4 free throws. After sustaining a quadriceps contusion in his best effort of the exhibition season, Essengue watched the last two games in street clothes.

All in all, Essengue averaged 12.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. He shot 41.9 percent from the field and 26.7 percent from three-point range. Interestingly enough, Essengue’s summer league averages nearly mirrored his final season with Ratiopharm Ulm—10.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.5 blocks, shooting 52.1 percent from the floor and 27.6 percent from three for those wondering.

Nevertheless, stuffing the stat sheet won’t necessarily be Essengue’s prerogative in his rookie season. Like 11th overall pick Matas Buzelis a season ago, Essengue likely won’t be a rotation player from the get-go. Buzelis only saw double-digit minutes eight times through the Bulls’ first 20 contests. He scored in double figures only six times before February.

It’ll be even more difficult for Essengue to crack the Bulls’ rotation than it was for Buzelis. Chicago has since added former fifth overall pick Isaac Okoro and brings back Kevin Huerter, Julian Phillips, Patrick Williams, and, of course, Buzelis.

Essengue must standout on defense to earn an early role

Thus, with such a deep forward unit, Essengue will have to stand out in a limited role. As more of a project at this point in his development, Essengue likely won’t make an impact as a volume scorer nor as a spot-up marksmen. The most Essengue scored for Ratiopharm Ulm was 22 points a season ago, and he’s never shot better than 33.3 percent in any professional season.

Essengue’s offense is a work-in-progress, although he should find his way to a plethora of easy baskets suiting up for the uptempo Bulls. Two of the 18-year-old’s best attributes are transition scoring and foul drawing.

Still, where Essengue will immediately make his mark is defensively. Chicago fielded one of the worst defenses a season ago, and will rely on the 12th overall pick to aid in the Bulls’ revamping of its shoddy defensive unit. Essengue isn’t exactly a standout defender… yet, but he has all the tools to evolve into one of the league’s better defenders.

A fluid athlete at 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, Essengue was built in a lab. While he was rough around the edges in the summer league, his fluidity flashed despite standing taller than most players on the floor. The Frenchman moves like a guard. Even though he weighs less than 200 pounds, he didn’t come across as a gangly mover like your typical rail-thin developing wing.

Essengue’s size and movement allow for him to guard both forward spots. Once he puts on weight, he’ll likely play some small-ball center. But for now, the Bulls will rely on Essengue to cause havoc on the defensive end in short spurts. He likely won’t be tasked with defending the opposition’s best forwards one-on-one, but he will be asked to create defensive activities as a help-side defender.

Essengue is an imposing presence and has demonstrated the willingness to take on attacking offensive players. His contest on Indiana Pacers’ Johnny Furphy ultimately landed him on a poster, but his inclination to go for a block certainly earned him some brownie points.

With many of the Bulls’ players projected to contribute at greater lengths offensively, Essengue will have his moments to stand out defensively from the start. Defensive playmaking and non-stop hustle will ultimately earn the 12th overall pick a solidified role.