The Chicago Bulls selected Noa Essengue with their 12th overall selection in the 2025 NBA Draft. It came as a slight surprise, as many expected the Bulls to take a center, as Nikola Vucevic is aging, they don't have a great backup option, and Maryland center Derik Queen was still on the board.

Bulls first-round draft pick Noa Essengue shakes hands with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 12th overall during the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on June 25, 2025. When you give now, you're automatically entered to win two premium seats to the Crosstown Showdown on July 26. See rules

Essengue has the ability to run the court and attack off the dribble, averaging 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in Germany this season.