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Chicago Tribune
16-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Chicago Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis is ready for his close-up. He credits Billy Donovan's tough love.
The doubts ran through the back of Matas Buzelis' mind early in the Chicago Bulls season. Artūras Karnišovas' touted first-round pick wasn't getting any minutes and was quickly sent down to the G League for a little fine-tuning. A 20-year-old trying to make a name for himself on the team he grew up watching was suddenly entering a world of uncertainty. 'I was thinking, 'Am I good enough? Can I compete with these guys?'' Buzelis admitted Tuesday after practice on the West Side. For someone with as much self-confidence as Buzelis, it was a different feeling. But the answer, he soon discovered, was a simple 'yes.' He not only was good enough to compete in the NBA, he could become a vital cog on a young, exciting Bulls team that began to figure things out once Zach LaVine was traded. Josh Giddey improved, Coby White assumed a leadership role and coach Billy Donovan allowed Matas to be Matas. The slow rollout is now a thing of the past. Buzelis will get his first chance to show what he can do on a bigger stage Wednesday when the Bulls take on the Miami Heat at the United Center in a do-or-die play-in game. Buzelis was sent to the Windy City Bulls of the G League after only five games, in which he averaged one point in five minutes and shot 2-for-11 from the field and 0-for-5 on 3-point attempts. It was just a brief opportunity for Buzelis to get more playing time. But for someone chosen with the No. 11 draft pick, it was a blow to his self-esteem. 'It was tough for me at first, of course,' he said. 'But these challenges come with being successful and being a better basketball player. I didn't take it personally. 'When I went down there, I went down there and proved that I belonged with the (Bulls). It takes a lot of mental focus to go down to the G League … but I adjusted.' Since becoming a starter in February, Buzelis has averaged 13 points and 4.5 rebounds in 31 games with 34 blocked shots. He isn't the focus of the offense, but he opens the floor and provides defense and rim protection that was missing when LaVine was in the lineup. This is a different Bulls team than the one that lost to the Heat in the last two play-in tournaments, with White and Nikola Vučević the only core players left from those losses. It's also a team going into the postseason on a hot streak, unlike the last two years. After an adjustment period with LaVine gone, the Bulls went 15-5 in their last 20 games, with two of those wins coming against the Heat. The Bulls went 12-8 in their last 20 games in 2022-23 and 9-11 last season. 'Matas has really grown,' Donovan said Tuesday. 'It's good to see him grow the way he has. Josh is a new player. He wasn't here last year. Bringing in Kevin (Huerter) and Tre (Jones) and Zach (Collins), they're new. This team is different from any other team. I give them a lot of credit coming out of the All-Star break and trade deadline because we had to incorporate three new players. 'Certainly Alex Caruso and Zach (LaVine) and DeMar (DeRozan), those guys were key contributors to our team. Now, because we are a lot younger, there are opportunities for some new guys.' Buzelis said he never lost faith in himself or his game, but the early season issues marked his first real experience dealing with failure at the professional level. He credited Donovan for keeping him 'accountable' on every play. 'I remember one play at Golden State, he took me out when (Andrew) Wiggins posted me up and scored,' Buzelis said of a Jan. 23 game in San Francisco. 'It's little stuff like that. He challenges me in practice, and I thank him for that. He's been a huge part of my development and probably the best coach I've ever had.' Buzelis played only 11 minutes in that 131-106 blowout loss at the Chase Center, but his time was coming. LaVine played his final game for the Bulls on Jan. 27 before leaving for family reasons, then was dealt to Sacramento during a road trip. When the Bulls returned to the United Center on Feb. 4, Buzelis came off the bench in a 133-124 win over the Heat, scoring 24 points on 10-for-10 shooting. When he sank a 3 in front of the Bulls bench at the end of the first half, Buzelis was mobbed on court by his teammates like he'd won a playoff game. Donovan inserted Buzelis into the starting lineup after that game, and the rookie began to play with more confidence. Buzelis was always ready for a challenge, Donovan said, and understood that making mistakes was part of the growth process. 'He's starting to see that his talent level is what got him here, but his talent level is not enough to be the individual player he wants to be,' Donovan said. 'He's taken a real serious look, a hard look at himself as it relates to rest and nutrition and hydration, the game plans and watching films and scouting reports. And not having a younger-player mentality, because he's so gifted, of (thinking), 'All I have to do is just show up and it's going to be OK.' 'Early in the year, when he got exposed to a lot of different things, he understood, 'There is a lot more to this than me running and jumping and shooting.' And he's done that.' Donovan's tough-love approach has paid off. 'You come in and you have to earn their trust,' Buzelis said. 'That's what Billy was doing. He was always on me, and I thank him for that. Every coach I've had has been very difficult, very tough on me. That's what molded me into the player I am. He's always on point with me, and I feel I can always be better. He feels I can too. That's his specialty.' After he drove past Jimmy Butler on the baseline for a dunk Feb. 8 at the United Center, Buzelis was asked if that was a prime example of his improved playmaking skills. He just laughed. 'You guys don't really know me,' he said. 'I've always had offense. It's funny you think it's new, but I've always had it — all the guard skills and everything.' The development from sitting on the bench to the G League to gradually increasing minutes to starting and participating in the Slam Dunk Contest has been fun to watch — and a lesson in coaching that doesn't always get noticed when a switch is flipped in a young player's game. After playing against Buzelis for the first time in late February, Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant was impressed, telling The Bigs that Donovan put him in 'attack, attack, attack' mode and was watching it pay off. 'His team is encouraging him to do that, so playing underneath that is just going to make you a better player,' Durant said. 'Like the rest of Chicago, I'm going to sit back and watch and see what happens from here. I've got high expectations, just like you guys do.' No matter how the Bulls fare in the play-in tournament, Chicago is ready to sit back and watch what happens to Buzelis in the coming years. He's ready too. 'I was put into difficult situations when I was growing up, so it's nothing new to me,' he said in early February. 'My mother always emphasized putting me into difficult situations, and now I feel like I've grown into a player who doesn't fear anything and is ready for whatever.'
Forbes
05-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Matas Buzelis Gives The Chicago Bulls Hope
The Chicago Bulls have not had much to be joyous about in recent seasons. They have missed the playoffs multiple seasons in a row, and they have had to tear down a team they once thought could compete at the top of the NBA. But through this turmoil there has been a bright spot in the windy city. Matas Buzelis, the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, has provided Bulls fans with a glimmer of hope for the future of the team. The G-League Ignite product has shown tremendous potential this season, notably as an on ball creator. Buzelis falling to 11 in the draft is looking like a blessing in disguise for Chicago, as he has been very impressive thus far in his NBA career. Earlier in the season, Buzelis was not getting anywhere near the amount of opportunity or playing time that he gets currently, which in retrospect looks like a mistake. Chicago was still trying to compete with Zach LaVine at the helm earlier this season, which meant that they were not exactly jumping at the chance to have a rookie on the floor for extended periods. Pre All-Star break, Buzelis only started in 4 games and came off the bench in the other 49 games. He also only averaged 14.8 minutes per game pre All-Star break, which really limited his chances to prove himself. Although his minutes were limited in this segment, there were small signs that he could do more if given the chance to. In his 4 starts pre All-Star break Buzelis averaged 25.9 minutes per game, and 13 .3 points per game on 51 percent shooting in those starts as well. Post All-Star break is where Buzelis has begun to truly showcase his talents. Post All-Star break Buzelis was inserted into the starting lineup full time, and in these 22 games he has posted averages of 12.6 points per game, and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 45 percent from the field. What pops out the most about Buzelis' game is how comfortable he looks as an on-ball driver. The 6'10 209 lb forward has very tight ball handling for a player of his size. Numerous times this season Buzelis has pulled out a sequence of moves en route to the rim that make you sit back in awe. His finishing skills are also quite strong for a rookie, he has many different gather moves in his arsenal, his pace control on drives are strong, and his leaping ability can not be questioned as well. Buzelis' athleticism is also one of the first things that stand out when you watch him play. The Chicago Bulls' scheme of playing with a high pace and getting in transition as much as possible directly compliment Buzelis's skills, as he is a more than willing lane filler in transition, and more often than not he finishes at the cup with authority. Buzelis' athleticism allows him to be a strong cutter as well, often slipping backdoor to be found on alley oop attempts or regular finishes as well. Post All-Star break, Buzelis is averaging 4.6 drives per game, which was nearly double his drives per game pre All-Star break. On these drives he is shooting 46.7 percent from the field as well. Here, Buzelis catches the ball and attacks Cade Cunningham on a closeout and when he draws nail help on his drive what he does next is great. With Jalen Duren helping at the nail, Buzelis does a decel euro step away from Duren and then gets the layup to go off the glass. Movement skills like these make watching Buzelis a treat, night in and night out. Buzelis shows off guard-like handles here with a sudden hesitation move that flowed seamlessly into a crossover. Then once again he showed a strong finishing move, and used his inside hand to get the layup on the glass before Precious Achiuwa could get to his shot. Plays like these, where Buzelis looks so comfortable as a ball handler, are very encouraging. Here, in semi-transition, Buzelis is bringing the ball up the floor, and with nobody in the paint for the Phoenix Suns he decides to attack the rim. With a beautiful sweeping high pickup, he beats his primary defender and frees himself up for a wide open rim attempt. Buzelis has put together a nice sample size of good games, where his on ball creativity, driving, and effectiveness leave NBA fans with the impression that he will only get better from here. With more opportunity in his future he should be able to grow into an outstanding player in this league.
New York Times
18-03-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis turning heads around the NBA: ‘He has a huge upside'
SALT LAKE CITY — In the first meeting between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz in early November, Matas Buzelis barely saw the floor. The Bulls rookie logged only four minutes in a nine-point home loss. Chicago's season was only seven games into an 82-game grind, and there was no mistaking the rail-thin Buzelis as being ready to battle seasoned pros. Advertisement Fast forward four months, and Buzelis is closing his debut season by showing how far he's come. He made his 17th straight start in the Bulls' 111-97 road win over the Jazz on Monday, scoring 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting to go with nine rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot in 30 minutes. 'He's good,' Jazz star and former Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen told The Athletic. 'He didn't back down. That's always good to see.' Markkanen, who played his first four seasons with the Bulls, missed the November meeting between the teams because of back spasms. But after sharing the floor with Buzelis for the first time, Markkanen became the latest star to endorse Buzelis' potential, joining Kevin Durant and the retired Carmelo Anthony. 'As a rookie, you've always got some work that you can do,' Markkanen said. 'But I think he's got the skill and the toughness and, obviously, the athleticism, as we've seen. I think he has a huge upside. And what I've heard from talking to his teammates, (Nikola Vučević) and those guys, is that he's a hard worker and a great kid. I think he's going to be good.' Automatic.#seered | @BuzelisMatas — Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 18, 2025 The Bulls are now winners of five of their last six games and currently sit in ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings. They believe Buzelis will gradually improve similarly to the way Markkanen did before he blossomed into an All-Star for the Jazz in 2022-23, his sixth season. 'I think there's no secret to it,' Markkanen agreed. 'It's just sticking with it, putting the work in and keeping his mind right, which it seems he has the ability to do, being a smart kid. I'll look forward to our matchups.' Bulls coach Billy Donovan overlapped with Markkanen for one season in Chicago. If there is one thing Buzelis can learn from the version of Markkanen that Donovan inherited, it would be attention to detail. Advertisement '(Markkanen) was great with game-plan discipline,' Donovan said. 'He was smart; obviously, he could really shoot it. I thought he had a good feel for how to play. With Matas, I think he's got huge upside. I felt like Lauri had huge upside even though he's gone to Cleveland and he's come (to Utah), but I think he's constantly, each year, taken a step. I think Matas can do the exact same thing. I'm not saying they're the exact same players, but I think he can make those kinds of steps.' To get there, however, Donovan said Buzelis must improve his instincts and focus on his awareness and recognition on the court. Donovan said he is 'going to get there because he can figure that out,' but there are some technical things the staff will continue working on with the 6-foot-10 forward. Learning nuances within the game, particularly defensively, is a key to Buzelis unlocking another level. Donovan rattled off a list of basics that may bore the casual fan but are the critical components that foster winning — navigating screens, properly executing switches and recognizing schemes. 'Any really good defensive player or really good positional defender that I've been around sees the action developing before it happens,' Donovan said. 'When you can get to that place, it gives you a huge advantage defensively.' Buzelis is expected to learn by studying film to pick up on opponents' tendencies, both individual and in team concepts. But in Monday's win, Donovan saw growth in the rookie. He battled Markkanen and competed inside against the Jazz. He relentlessly attacked the paint. Four of his seven made field goals were at the rim. Matas delivered.@CHSN__ | @BuzelisMatas — Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 18, 2025 On another timely cut, Buzelis was stuffed on a dunk attempt by Jazz center Walker Kessler, the league's leading shot blocker. But Buzelis never backed down throughout the game. 'He attacked the basket a lot better than he did previously against Houston,' Donovan said, referring to Saturday's 117-114 loss to the Rockets where Buzelis finished with only 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting. 'I just thought there was too much trying to extend and flip shots up (Saturday), and I thought (Monday), he went to the backboard to go finish.' Advertisement In recent days, Donovan noted how Buzelis has played lethargically in moments. With Buzelis averaging 26.5 minutes since the All-Star break — compared to 14.8 minutes before the break — Donovan once said Buzelis might be experiencing the proverbial rookie wall. You wouldn't know it by the way Buzelis played Monday. 'It was great to see him respond and step up the way he did,' Donovan said. 'That, to me, said a lot.'
Chicago Tribune
26-02-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago basketball report: Kevin Durant praises Matas Buzelis — and the Illinois women's postseason picture
Even in the final months of the regular season, Chicago Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis is getting to experience 'firsts.' His latest new experience Saturday was also a challenging one: facing off against the Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant, one of the best forwards in NBA history. Buzelis attacked the matchup with his signature intensity — and earned praise from Durant as a result. 'I like Matas,' Durant said after the game. 'I liked him when he was with the G League Ignite. He's long, athletic and can shoot it. 'He is definitely going to have some bumps and bruises as he gets through these first few years in the league trying to figure stuff out. The more experience, the more reps he gets on the floor as a starter, the better he'll become.' Durant said he could hear Bulls coach Billy Donovan — his former coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder — shouting at Buzelis throughout the game, encouraging the rookie to attack and be aggressive. Donovan has begun to play Buzelis in longer rotations since the trade deadline, including a total of 36 minutes in Monday's win over the Philadelphia 76ers. To a veteran like Durant, this encouragement and increased playing time is the key to Buzelis taking the next step in his development. 'His team is encouraging him to do that, so playing underneath that is just going to make you a better player,' Durant said. 'Like the rest of Chicago, I'm going to sit back and watch and see what happens from here. I've got high expectations, just like you guys do.' NCAA Tournament watch: Illinois women The Illinois women's basketball team has fallen out of the AP Top 25 again entering Sunday's regular-season finale against Michigan, but the Illini are in good shape to earn an NCAA Tournament berth — currently a No. 8 seed in ESPN's projected bracket. The Illini (21-7, 11-6 Big Ten) have slipped in and out of the Top 25 all season, reentering last week's poll at No. 25, but a trip to Los Angeles delivered back-to-back losses to then-No. 3 UCLA and No. 4 USC. Sunday's game in Champaign is Illinois' first this season against the Wolverines (19-8, 10-6), who also are unranked, though four of their six conference losses have come against ranked opponents. While the Big Ten hasn't fully delivered on powerhouse expectations in its first season after expanding to 18 teams, this will be one of the toughest iterations of the conference tournament as UCLA (now No. 2), USC, No. 12 Ohio State and No. 19 Maryland prepare to make deep runs in the NCAA Tournament. Illinois enters the final week of regular-season play in fifth place in the conference, a half-game behind Maryland and a half-game in front of Michigan and Michigan State. So Sunday's game could be crucial to seeding in the Big Ten Tournament, set for March 5-9 in Indianapolis. Number of the week: 3 Consecutive 20-point games for Bulls guard Josh Giddey, who tallied 25 points, 16 rebounds and six assists in Monday's beatdown of the 76ers. Giddey is the fifth player in franchise history to score 20 or more points while also posting a double-double in three or more consecutive games. The other four are Michael Jordan, Clem Haskins, Jerry Sloan and Guy Rodgers. Monday's game continued a high-scoring streak for Giddey, who has been stuffing the stat sheet since the trade deadline. He's averaging a team-high 19.1 points and five assists over the last seven games with 8.3 rebounds per game. Week ahead: Bulls Week ahead: Unrivaled Friday: Mist (Courtney Vandersloot) vs. Phantom, 7:15 p.m. (TNT) Saturday: Mist vs. Rose (Angel Reese), 6 p.m. (TruTV) Monday: Rose vs. Laces, 6:30 p.m. (TNT) What we're reading
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NBA rookie report: 5 promising first-year players on the rise, including Zach Edey
Last week, we highlighted five NBA rookies who have made a mark on the season in one way or another. Naturally, there are more rookies to discuss, even if they are a smidge further away than the first group, or simply don't project to reach similar heights. So, here are five more names that deserve your attention. At 7-foot-4, and with a 300-pound frame, Edey occupies a ton of space near the basket on both ends of the court, which is reflected in his 9.1 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. In addition, he's canning 57.3% of his shots. Oh, and he's doing all of that in just 20.5 minutes per game. Some pre-draft concerns, such as lacking foot speed and being too big to effectively guard in space, still have some merit, but that seems more insignificant by the day considering how efficient the Canadian is. Edey might not have All-NBA-type upside, but there's absolutely a world where he could become a no-nonsense, 30-minute starter who averages close to an effective 18/10 line down the road. Buzelis might deserve to be in the primary rookie group, exclusively due to his upside and relentless motor. But quite simply, we haven't seen enough consistency out of him yet. That doesn't mean the talent isn't there, as the highly athletic 6-10 wing is seemingly unearthing new skills every month, which is about the only bright spot the Bulls have this season. His 6.5 points and 2.9 rebounds in just over 15 minutes speak to Buzelis becoming a quality per-minute producer. There's an argument to be had that the local Chicagoan could have one of the biggest Year 2 leaps of anyone in this class. With Zach LaVine now elsewhere, and the Bulls turning ever so slightly into a new direction, it's time to unleash Buzelis for the remainder of the season. It'd be borderline malpractice if he isn't playing 25 minutes per game the rest of the way. Head coach Billy Donovan needs to explore the limits of his rookie's game so the team knows what it can expect moving forward. At just 19 years of age, Carrington has come into a situation where he has started 39 games and is producing a healthy all-around line of 9.1 points, 4 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game as one of the primary guards on the team. His efficiency (52.8 TS%) may not stand out, but that's to be expected when he's playing on a team with many young players and a roster that's overall, well, just not that good. At the very least, Carrington is producing and seeing a ton of minutes to ready himself for what should be a long career. At 6-4, Carrington is a big guard who's active on the glass, and he's refined his playmaking as the season has progressed. It's unclear if he's a genuine point guard, or more of a combo, but that isn't much of an issue as long as he receives opportunities in the open floor, which should be a given, especially now that Kyle Kuzma is in Milwaukee. In terms of raw potential, Ware is up there. When you're a 7-foot lob threat with 3-point range, you become interesting. When you add in shot-blocking and quality rebounding, you become outright intriguing. The 20-year-old hasn't played a lot — specifically just 783 minutes over the course of 40 games — and that needs to be rectified by Year 2, even if the Heat can at times be stubborn about playing their young guys. He might not get the chance this season due to Miami needing to make the postseason to avoid forking over a 2026 unprotected first-round pick to Oklahoma City. Long term, though, Ware looks not just like a keeper, but one who could turn into a special player. He's young and still somewhat undisciplined, but that just means the likelihood of Miami being the right place for him is fairly high. The Pelicans are in a position where they need to think about making a drastic turn from an organizational perspective. Good for them, then, that Missi fell into their laps at No. 21, providing New Orleans with a center who could start for the next decade. At 6-11, and with a high motor, Missi is averaging 8.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game, while playing a defensive-oriented brand of ball that's easy to plug into most lineups. He isn't much of a self-creator, but has shown signs of being patient in the post, knowing when to shoot and when to reset the offense. Whether Missi has star upside, or if he becomes a healthy version of Mitchell Robinson, remains to be seen, but his mature game, and workhorse mentality, is essentially a failsafe. If he's healthy, he'll have a productive career, even if he tops out as a decent starter. For a Pelicans team in need of value, they hit a home run late in the draft. Dalton Knecht, Lakers: Mature bucket-getter who is bound to have a few seasons where he's flirting with a 20-point average. Ron Holland, Pistons: Rim-pressuring youngster who is one reliable 3-point shot from being a three-level scorer. Solid rebounder, and surprisingly fluid positionally. Donovan Clingan, Trail Blazers: Elite rebounder who's still a developing scorer and frustratingly not getting steady minutes. Come on, Portland! Tristan da Silva, Magic: High-IQ, low-mistake player. Constantly ready to shoot off the catch, and extremely willing to play off superior teammates. Ryan Dunn, Suns: Formidable defensive prospect who somehow developed a 3-point shot out of nowhere. Should have a long NBA career.
