Matas Buzelis been highly visible this offseason. Is he primed for a breakout year?
The Chicago Bulls rolled the dice on G-Leaguer Matas Buzelis in the 2024 NBA Draft and have been rewarded well so far.
The small forward/power forward hybrid has made waves since entering the NBA, particularly last season, when he participated in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and nearly doubled his scoring average for then-coach Billy Donovan's team.
Now playing under new head coach Tiago Splitter, a man familiar with the European-style flair Buzelis brings to the game, Buzelis could be primed for a second consecutive breakout season, which would put him in elite company among NBA forwards.
Apr 10, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls forwardMatasBuzelis(14) defends against Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) during the second half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images Physicality Looms Large
Buzelis came into the NBA as a 6-foot-10, 195-pound prospect which normally spells doom at the professional level.
The Bulls youngster outpaced projections and naysayers by becoming an effective NBA player in year one, helping to lead the Bulls to a spot in the NBA's play-in game as a rookie.
In year two, Buzelis' physical "limitations" were cast aside as he became a true impact player.
The former 11th overall pick improved his scoring average, rebounding, passing, and shot blocking skills making him a complete player earlier than many NBA pundits expected.
Buzelis has been working on his shooting and his drive game this offseason, employing the help of teammates, Bulls assistants, and even legendary ex-Dallas Mavericks superstar Dirk Nowitzki in hopes of taking his game to the next level.
As former teammate Lonzo Ball said on a recent podcast, Buzelis has the mid-range game, and an array of near-unblockable fadeaway shots, down pat heading into his third season.
How he handles the physicality of the game against waves of opponents seeking to stop him could determine whether he reaches an All-Star level this season.
Buzelis an All-Star in the Making?
The realistic ceiling for Buzelis is to make the NBA All-Star team this season, not just the Slam Dunk Contest.
Buzelis has the raw talent to do it and will almost certainly have the shot attempts necessary to score at an even higher clip in year two, although he must make room for rookie star Caleb Wilson, who was chosen fourth by the Bulls in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Buzelis has begun settling in with a potential star point guard in Josh Giddey which can only help his cause going forward.
Giddey is a tall, rangy point guard with deft anticipation skills who should team even better this season with the Bulls' third-year man which could very well help him reach the 20-point scoring mark in the Windy City.
Bulls fans should expect a lot from Buzelis this year, especially considering the forward's own lofty expectations for himself.
An All-Star appearance at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles could put Buzelis on the map as a true NBA star, while also putting the Bulls back on the map as a team to watch during the second half of the season and beyond.
