Carter appeared in 43 out of 65 possible games for the Bulls during the shortened 2019-20 season. He started all 43 of those games. The big post player averaged per-game career highs in points (11.3), rebounds (9.4) and steals (0.8) over 29.2 minutes per game in what was his second season in the Association. Carter also averaged 1.2 assists and 0.8 blocks per contest. He ranked 15th in the NBA in total rebound percentage (17.8). The Duke product shot career highs in both field-goal percentage (53.4) and three-point percentage (20.7) while also shooting 73.7 percent from the free-throw line. On Nov. 9 against the Rockets, Carter set a new single-game career high with 16 rebounds. In that game, he also posted 13 points (5-9 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 3-3 FT), two assists and two blocks. Carter's best performance of the season was Oct. 28 against the Knicks. In 28 minutes, he double-doubled via a season-high 20 points (7-9 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 6-7 FT), 10 rebounds, three blocks, two assists and one steal. For the season, Carter gathered 17 double-doubles. The big center missed 22 straight games in January and February due to an ankle injury. He returned to action on Feb. 29 and was able to start six straight games before the pandemic sports stoppage on Mar. 11.

Thumb surgery ended Carter's rookie campaign after just 44 games, but prior to the injury, Carter showed he was a difference-maker for the Bulls. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft started every game of his freshman season and averaged north of 25 minutes per night. Carter quickly proved to be a high-end inside point producer, rebounder and defender, averaging 10.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He generated double-digit boards on nine separate occasions and cracked the 20-point mark three times, including a season-high 28 points against the Pistons on Nov. 30. Carter posted seven double-doubles, including Nov. 9, when he pulled down a season-high 16 rebounds to accompany 13 points and two blocks. He even made six 3-pointers on the season. The young center is a legitimate two-way threat who shot impressively from both the field (48.5 percent) and the line (79.5 percent).