The Chicago Bulls have spent the better part of the 27 years since Michael Jordan’s departure struggling to achieve sustainable success. It’s missed the playoffs in 15 of those 27 seasons, with Tom Thibodeau’s tenure accounting for seven of the appearances.

That’s inevitably placed every decision the front office makes under the magnifying lens—so much so that players such as Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue met a polarizing response.

In some circles, Buzelis and Essengue were praised as promising upside players whom the Bulls were wise to take chances on late in the lottery range. In others, they were cast aside as individuals who lacked the attributes Chicago needed to prioritize.

It’s become the status quo for the organization, as the sustained inability to maintain relevance has forced every draft pick to meet unnecessary criticism.

Thankfully, both Buzelis and Essengue are taking center stage at Summer League and showcasing their respective abilities to silence the critics. They’re living up to draft analysts’ hype and taking over games in a way that should have fans on the edge of their seats.

It’s only Summer League, but Buzelis and Essengue are proving that the future along the wings is far brighter than Bulls fans may expect it to be.

Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue are showing out at Summer League

Buzelis and Essengue kicked things off at Las Vegas Summer League with performances that left something to be desired. Buzelis scored 17 points on 4-of-14 shooting, while Essengue posted five points and seven turnovers on 2-of-7 shooting, albeit while coming up with three steals.

Since turning the page on the opener, however, they’ve both taken a step forward—especially in regard to their scoring.

Buzelis sat out the Bulls’ second game, but Essengue stepped up in his absence with 12 points, 10 rebounds, four offensive boards, one block, and a steal. The incoming rookie followed that effort by tallying 21 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and a 3-of-8 mark from beyond the arc.

Furthermore, Essengue committed just two combined turnovers during those games after coughing the ball up seven times in the opener—a clear example of how the game is already slowing down for him.

Buzelis, meanwhile, torched the Indiana Pacers to the tune of 28 points and five rebounds while shooting 8-of-14 from the field and 2-of-4 from beyond the arc. His elite athleticism was on firm display as he skied above the rim, blew past defenders, and worked brilliantly away from the ball.

It was a captivating display from both of the Bulls’ promising young wings, with Essengue showing just as much promise as he showed range from distance and clinical midrange potential.

With Buzelis and Essengue showing out, it’s becoming clear how they can play big minutes for Chicago in 2025-26. It’s also easy to see how significant their upside is as modern forwards who can create, play through contact, and put points on the board.

Chicago has a somewhat crowded rotation, but the duo of Buzelis and Essengue are showing just how important it will be to let them tap into their potential.