Matas Buzelis fell into the Chicago Bulls’ laps at pick No. 11 of the 2024 NBA Draft.
The Illinois native could have been a top-five selection in what was a relatively weak draft class, but no one in Chicago’s front office seemed to mind.
Buzelis is certainly raw and had a disappointing season with the now-defunct G League Ignite.
Despite being projected as a knockdown shooter and three-level scorer coming out of high school, the 6-foot-10 forward averaged 14.3 points and 6.9 rebounds in the G League but on wildly inefficient shooting splits of 45/27/68.
Still, the allure of someone of Buzelis’ size with his explosiveness, athleticism and potential as a shooter, was too much for the Bulls to pass on.
Then, the 20-year-old showed out at the 2024 NBA Summer League and during the preseason. With Chicago’s assumed emphasis on player development, Buzelis was expected to at least be one of the first players off head coach Billy Donovan’s bench, if not an immediate starter.
That’s been far from the case. But why?
Through the Bulls’ first five games, Buzelis is averaging 5.6 minutes. His season high came in an Oct. 25 game against the Milwaukee Bucks, when he got on the court for nine minutes and finished with two points, two assists and a steal.
Even after game three, Buzelis’ lack of playing time was a topic. Donovan was asked about it and weighed in on his rookie’s development and seat on the bench, per Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun Times.
“With the number of guys we have there at that [forward] position, I want to help Matas develop and grow, but I also want to make sure there’s groups out there that will function together. … I think we’re going to need a lot of players, just because of the way we’re trying to play. We’ve got to find ways to get him in there when we can, so he can get something out of it.”
– Bulls’ Billy Donovan on Matas Buzelis
In a press conference on Oct. 30 per Chicago Bulls Central, Donovan echoed his previous comments, explaining that his young forward has to earn his minutes by playing well in his limited amount of playing time.
Chicago’s head coach even mentioned a return to the G League as a possibility. Buzelis said that’s not his ideal plan, but he’ll take advantage of it if that’s what happens.
“If I go down there, it’s not my goal to be down there. I’m going to work my way up to the big team and try to get minutes on the Bulls’ roster. But if I have to go down there, I don’t take it as disrespect. I’m there to learn and advance as a human and a basketball player.”
– Bulls’ Matas Buzelis
The Bulls are off to a 3-2 start, and their bench unit has been a key part of two comeback victories. So far, things are working if Chicago aims to rack up wins.
That shouldn’t be the team’s primary goal, however, especially not with a top-10 pick on the line in a highly regarded 2025 draft. Buzelis should be playing through his mistakes rather than constantly looking over his shoulder.
