After a rookie season full of flashes, Matas Buzelis is looking to turn potential into production for the Chicago Bulls in 2025–26. The 6-foot-9 forward carved out an immediate role last year, starting 31 games and offering glimpses of why the Bulls remain high on their hometown product. Now entering his sophomore season, Buzelis is expected to take on a bigger role off the bench and help lift Chicago beyond its recent mediocrity.

Buzelis averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game as a rookie, and his numbers jumped to 13.1 points and 4.5 rebounds when starting. He did it with a versatile offensive package for his size: using his quick first step to attack off the dribble, finishing alley-oops with ease, and flashing highlight dunks thanks to his 6-foot-10 wingspan and outstanding agility. Perhaps most encouraging was his growth as a shooter. Long seen as inconsistent from deep—he shot just 27.3% from three at Ignite in the 2023-24 G-League season—Buzelis raised that mark to 36.1% on similar volume last season.

Even on limited usage (18.1%), Buzelis played efficiently, posting a 54.1% effective field goal percentage and 57.1% true shooting last season. On defense, he leveraged his length to alter shots and averaged nearly one block per game. He showed he can impact both ends of the floor when given minutes.

Still, there are clear areas he must polish to take the next step. Buzelis struggled under defensive pressure, thriving mostly on catch-and-shoot looks and wide-open chances. He converted just 29.7% of his pull-up twos, well behind fellow forward Patrick Williams (34.1% on higher volume). If he wants to become a reliable scoring option, improving his shot creation and contested shot-making will be essential.

Physicality is another hurdle. Buzelis’ slim frame often limited his ability to finish through contact or defend stronger wings and power forwards. Adding strength would help him hold his ground inside and capitalize on mismatches offensively. He’ll also need to grow as a playmaker—his 1.8 assists per game were modest for someone with his speed and ability to draw defensive attention. Developing his vision and passing could make him more than just a finisher.

There’s no doubt the Bulls will continue to invest in their homegrown young talent, who delivered a promising rookie campaign and has ample space to grow into a versatile two-way player. If Buzelis can add strength, sharpen his shot-making under pressure, and become a more willing playmaker, he has a clear path to becoming one of Chicago’s core building blocks for the future.