During his rookie season, Matas Buzelis emerged as a potential star of the future for the Chicago Bulls. The 6-foot-10 forward cracked Billy Donovan’s starting lineup in February and never looked back.
Now, as he’s preparing for his sophomore season, Buzelis is shouldering some heightened expectations. So much so that former NBA wing Kendall Gill believes he can become a leading star for the Bulls. Gill’s comments came via a recent episode of Chicago Sports Network’s “Chicago Lead.”
“You look for guys that display that ultimate confidence in himself,” Gill said. “I mean, he believes in himself. He wants to be out on the floor, wants to guard the best player, wants to be the best defender on the floor…He’s 6-foot-10, athletic, guards the rim, can guard three or four different positions…He’s a highlight waiting to happen each and every night. That’s why I love this kid. I know I got some pushback on the Cooper Flagg, Matas Buzelis comparison, but hey, I planted my flag on it.”
Buzelis played in 80 games during his rookie campaign. He ended the year with averages of 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds on 45.4% shooting from the field and 36.1% from deep. However, those numbers took a jump once he was given a bigger role and earned himself a starting spot. In the 31 games he started, Buzelis averaged 13 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, on 47.3% shooting.
Assuming he’s been in the gym and developing his skill set this summer, Buzelis will likely emerge as one of Chicago’s best players in the upcoming season. And while the Cooper Flagg comparison may be off base, there’s no doubt that he’s got tremendous upside.
Bulls’ Buzelis Pinpoints Key Areas to Improve
In a recent interview with Bulls insider  K.C. Johnson, Buzelis detailed how he’s looking to improve his game this summer.
âI talked to Billy a little bit,â Buzelis said. âHeâs been telling me, more pick and rolls. Try to work on off-the-dribble threes, stuff like that. So Iâve always been comfortable with the ball in my hands. Iâve never stressed about having the ball in my hands, and Iâve never panicked when I have the ball in my hands. Itâs second nature to me, being a primary ball handler. Just something thatâs going to come with time as I work on it, getting more reps.â
Buzelis has significant room to grow his game in the coming years. As this is his first offseason as a professional, he’s likely to take a developmental jump. Nevertheless, sophomores usually struggle at some point in the season, so it will be interesting to see how Buzelis navigates the inevitable challenges to come.
Buzelis Could Become The Face of The Chicago Bulls
On July 2, Johnson noted how Buzelis was playing a key role behind the scenes for Chicago. As such, the insider admitted that the 20-year-old forward could emerge as a face of the franchise in the near future.
âOne takeaway I want to add about the draft, have you seen the Bullsâ social media account? Whoâs been marching (the rookies) around? Matas Buzelis,â Johnson said. âHe is becoming the face of the franchise. This is no knock on Josh Giddey or Coby White who obviously are much more accomplished at the NBA level. But Matas obviously being based here and becoming very media friendly⦠heâs been marching these guys around and participating quite a bit in the social media aspect. Thatâs the future right there.â
Buzelis has already made a big impression on the Bulls franchise. He’s going to be a core part of the team’s rebuild and undoubtedly become a valuable starter in the near future. If he can reach his full potential, then there’s no reason why he can’t be the face of the Bulls for the next 10-15 years, assuming that’s something he covets. Either way, it would appear that Chicago struck gold with its 11th pick on the 2024 NBA Draft.
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