The Chicago Bulls took Matas Buzelis with the No. 11 pick in the NBA draft Wednesday. Here are five things to know about the first-round selection before he joins the team for the Summer League next month in Las Vegas.
Where did Buzelis play in college?
After playing high school ball for Brewster Academy in New Hampshire and Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas, the Chicago native who grew up in Hinsdale chose to forego college and played one season for the G League Ignite.
The Ignite were envisioned as an alternate path to the NBA for high-level prospects to pursue pre-professional development against NBA affiliate teams in the G League. The team also offered a route for players to earn money before declaring for the draft when the current NIL market did not exist. But Ignite teams suffered mightily through four seasons of the G League, with the youth and inexperience of their teen players on full display.
Buzelis faced similar struggles during his year with the team, averaging 14.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting only 27.3% on 3-pointers. But key parts of his game still translated to the G League, particularly his ability to defend the rim: He averaged 2.1 blocks per game.
Despite the dysfunction of the Ignite — they went 2-32 — Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas believes Buzelis ultimately benefited from his season with the team.
“He played against men,” Karnišovas said. “That Ignite team just got beat up. A lot of those guys came from winning programs, but this year, they didn’t win that many games. But they competed against grown men so I think that physicality is as close as you can get to an NBA game. That’s what they experienced in the G League. So hopefully that translates into the NBA for him faster.”
Why did the Bulls select Buzelis?
As a 6-foot-9 wing, Buzelis offers versatility in perimeter play and rim presence that the Bulls could utilize as they attempt to recalibrate the roster. They also are beginning to trend younger, an organizational shift that began with trading Alex Caruso for 21-year-old guard Josh Giddey.
At 19, Buzelis could be the latest addition to a Bulls group meant to build toward success in future seasons rather than competing for the playoffs in 2025.
In what areas can he improve?
Shooting, shooting, shooting.
The Bulls have embraced shooting projects in three consecutive drafts, with Buzelis, Julian Phillips and Dalen Terry each entering the league with complicated shot mechanics and poor 3-point-shooting efficiency.
A 27.3% 3-point shooter, Buzelis will be yet another name on the list of rehab projects for shooting specialist Peter Patton, who has been tasked with improving the Bulls from their previous position as the worst 3-point-shooting team in the NBA.
Could the Bulls have picked higher in the draft?
Karnišovas said the Bulls did not expect Buzelis to fall low enough to be available at No. 11, which signals they did not ultimately plan for a trade to secure him at a higher pick. The Bulls were tied with trades up to potentially pursue other players but ultimately stuck with their selection.
Only four trades were made in the first round. In a somewhat understated draft year, the first round was difficult to project — which makes a lack of moves in either direction understandable.
Will Buzelis play regularly next season?
That depends on a few factors — and on potential developments in the next few weeks. The Bulls could be headed into a full-tilt youth movement as they shop Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević while awaiting a free-agency decision from DeMar DeRozan.
Rookie minutes have been limited in Chicago over the last two years, with 2023 pick Phillips and 2022 pick Terry averaging 6.9 per game in their respective rookie seasons. But the Bulls have been looking for another wing to complement Patrick Williams, who is still recovering from a season-ending surgery.
If the Bulls part with their veteran core in any respect — whether it’s the departure of one or all three of these players — then Buzelis could find himself on the court earlier than expected this season.
