Chicago Bulls select Julian Phillips in 2023 NBA Draft

Former Tennessee forward Julian Phillips was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday night, following a strong freshman season with the Volunteers. Technically, the Boston Celtics made the pick and wound up in Chicago via the Washington Wizards

Phillips, playing on a Tennessee team with a lot of savvy veterans, managed to work his way into the mix pretty early. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 8.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game while appearing in 32 contests for the Volunteers.

He showed star potential early in the season when he went for 25 points and eight rebounds in a 73-66 overtime win against USC at the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis.

Phillips recorded a pair of double-doubles in his first season in college, doing so with an 18 and 11 performance against Mississippi State and a 16 and 10 showing against Eastern Kentucky.

He was named the SEC Freshman of the Week once, while also earning a spot on the 2023 SEC All-Freshman Team.

Prior to enrolling at Tennessee, Julian Phillips was a highly coveted prospect in the 2022 recruiting class. He was a five-star, ranked as the No. 13 overall player in the class, as well as the No. 4 small forward and the top overall player in the state of Missouri, hailing from Link Year Prep.

What NBA Draft experts are saying about Julian Phillips

Though he only played for a year in college, most NBA analysts have noted Phillips’ excellent defensive ability makes him a draftable prospect on the wing. He wasn’t always in that role in college, though he’ll likely shift more toward the wing and away from the paint as a professional.

“Phillips was forced to play near the rim more often than one would expect, given his size. He’s a long, wiry 6-foot-7 wing with good athleticism and a massive wingspan,” Rotowire’s evaluation of the Tennessee star said. “Phillips uses his size and athleticism to be a capable defender both inside and outside. He’s not afraid to do the dirty work when needed and provides an energy spark off the bench due to his intensity and hustling.

The Tennessee product is a good rebounder for his size and projects to be an above-average defender at the next level. There are some concerns regarding his offensive game as he only shot 41.1 percent from the field and 23.9 percent from three-point range. He made 82.2 percent of his free throws, however, so the shooting touch is there. He’s raw offensively but NBA-ready from a defensive perspective.