{"id":46304,"date":"2025-03-24T07:15:51","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T07:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=46304"},"modified":"2025-03-24T07:16:32","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T07:16:32","slug":"bulls-matas-buzelis-reveals-best-player-ever-message-to-billy-donovan-after-career-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=46304","title":{"rendered":"Bulls’ Matas Buzelis reveals ‘best player ever’ message to Billy Donovan after career game"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Matas <\/p>\n

The Chicago Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 146-115 on Saturday, with Matas Buzelis recording 31 points on 5-of-10 shooting from three.<\/p>\n

The No. 11 pick of the 2024 NBA Draft has bigger goals than what was expected from him in his rookie campaign, per K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network.<\/p>\n

\u201cI told Billy (Donovan) that I want to be pushed to the limit. I want to be the best player ever. That’s just how I think. He has done a great job holding me accountable. And I thank him. When he takes me out for a mistake, I get better\u201d<\/p>\n

Buzelis is averaging 7.7 points on 44.1 percent shooting and 3.1 rebounds, as Chicago attempts to make a run in the second half of the NBA regular season at 31-40 and ninth in the Eastern Conference.<\/p>\n

Matas Buzelis’ takes first season to another level in Bulls win<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Bulls'
Matt Marton-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

Related Chicago Bulls NewsArticle continues below<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The 20-year-old forward has scored at a bit of a streaky pace over the last five appearances. Following two consecutive five-point outings, Buzelis’ potential was finally put on display against the greatest player in the world.<\/p>\n

Buzelis discussed his matchup with Lakers star forward LeBron James, per Heavy.com.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it was good,\u201d\u00a0Buzelis told reporters\u00a0on March 23. \u201cHonestly, he didn\u2019t really shoot much against me. I think he shot one time against me, in the mid-range. So I\u2019d say it was a good job.\u00a0 But he\u2019s a great player, so he\u2019s gonna get, what he\u2019s gonna get.\u201d<\/p>\n

Donovan and the Bulls are working through a rebuild, with Buzelis at the forefront of the plan. Coby White and Josh Giddey are also playing great basketball, suddenly looking like a team that could make some noise in the postseason. While they will likely have to dig themselves out of the play-in tournament at this rate, the Bulls are no longer a doormat in the East.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Matas Buzelis had one of his best games as a rookie in Saturday’s win for the Bulls, and he’s not stopping now.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":46306,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[472,43,45],"class_list":["post-46304","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","tag-billy-donovan","tag-chicago-bulls","tag-nba"],"yoast_head":"\nBulls' Matas Buzelis reveals 'best player ever' message to Billy Donovan after career game - News 365<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=46304\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bulls' Matas Buzelis reveals 'best player ever' message to Billy Donovan after career game - 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