The future of Chicago Bulls basketball looked spectacularly bright for about 12 minutes on Saturday.
All the Bulls had to do was unleash their fearless 20-year-old rookie.
Matas Buzelis, the 11th pick in this year’s NBA Draft, electrified his home fans with a second-quarter spurt that sent shock waves through the United Center. Despite another defensive dud that ended in a 142-131 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Bulls could remember the second quarter as the moment Buzelis began to bloom.
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He scored 12 of his season-high 14 points in the period, unveiling a complete package of scoring skills. He attacked the rim violently. He launched catch-and-shoot 3s confidently. He showed a slick drag step and threw down a tomahawk dunk in transition, flexing at the crowd following the finish. After burying the first of his two 3-pointers in front of the Grizzlies bench, Buzelis turned and stared down injured star Ja Morant.
WATCH MATAS FLY. @CHSN__ | @BuzelisMatas pic.twitter.com/FIDPfM6UBR
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) November 24, 2024
“Ja said, ‘It’s off’ or something like that; ‘Hell no,’ ” Buzelis said. “And I just looked at him. I didn’t really say anything.”
The sequence was one of several that showed the kid is here to compete — against all comers.
“He (doesn’t) lack in confidence,” Bulls guard Coby White said. “His confidence is always high.”
More significant than Buzelis’ scoring burst, however, is the timing of his mini-breakout. He did exactly what he was supposed to do when the Bulls needed him the most. With starting forward Patrick Williams nursing foot inflammation and second-year forward Julian Phillips sidelined by illness, Saturday set up to be a Buzelis showcase. Someone had to absorb minutes, and Buzelis happily played a season-high 29. It was only the sixth time this season that Buzelis has logged double digits in minutes and only the third time he’s topped 20.
Still, in only his 17th NBA game, Buzelis no longer looked like a wide-eyed pup who was unsure of what to do. Buzelis was decisive in everything he did. He made 6 of 13 shots, went 2 of 5 on 3s and added three rebounds, one assist and one block. The little things told the story of his growing comfort. He sprang off the floor in an instant to put back one of his misses. He attacked closeouts and cut hard for the ball with purpose. And despite how apparent it is that the 6-foot-10, 209-pound Buzelis must add weight to his slim frame, he appeared rather adept at lowering his shoulder to initiate contact once at the rim.
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“The thing I like about him is he’s not afraid to make mistakes,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said. “Mistakes don’t discourage him. And he uses them as opportunities to learn and grow. And he’s aware of where he’s got to get better, and he does try to focus on improving in those things.”
Buzelis is already playing with the type of consistent assertiveness that the Bulls have been eager to get from Williams for the past four seasons. Donovan said Buzelis plays the same way each time he takes the court. Neither his attitude nor his approach will change.
“The biggest thing that I respect about him,” Donovan said, “is that I think he understands the importance of the little things. And I think that’s an area of focus that he’s been trying to really focus on.”
Donovan wants Buzelis to learn how to retain scouting reports and adhere to game plans, skills that all rookies must develop. But teammates have peeped how Buzelis doesn’t hesitate to spend extra time studying.
White relayed how Buzelis turned what could have been a free Saturday morning into work hours.
“He came into the practice facility to watch film. So that was big,” White said. “A lot of young guys, especially on a back-to-back, they’re going to take that whole morning off and then meet at the arena.”
Buzelis, who is soft-spoken but jovial and described his second quarter as surreal, essentially shrugs off the work ethic he’s got that’s turning teammates’ heads.
“I just love staying in the gym,” Buzelis said. “I’m always working and always learning. I think that translates to the court and playing in front of all the fans with the Bulls.”
White said Buzelis’ commitment to preparation will serve him well as he develops. White persevered through some bumpy early days by exhibiting a similar commitment to learning. It helped him morph into one of the league’s best young scorers.
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“That’s the key,” White said. “When you’re young, it’s just being prepared for anything. And he took the time to come watch film. You don’t always have to do stuff physically to better yourself. You can also do stuff mentally and visualize stuff. So that was huge for him, I think. He just wants to learn. He continues to get better.”
An abysmal Bulls defense overshadowed Buzelis’ performance Saturday as it does most positives for Chicago this season. The Bulls allowed at least 45 points in a quarter for the third time this season, yielding that many to the Grizzlies in the third quarter.
In three of their past six contests, the Bulls have allowed more than 140 points. They’ve surrendered at least 135 points five times. Their 118.2 points allowed per 100 possessions rank 28th.
Stars like Donovan Mitchell, Luka Dončić, Anthony Edwards and Giannis Antetokounmpo have understandably gone off on the defensively challenged Bulls. But the Grizzlies got a combined 56 points from Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jaylen Wells. The backcourt duo combined to shoot 23 of 31 from the field, 9 of 16 on 3-pointers and dish 16 assists against three turnovers. Together, they had appeared in only 57 career contests before Saturday.
“We’ve tried harder, and we’ve executed better in pick-and-roll (defense),” Donovan said. “We’ve been more physical there. It’s been more in space where a guy just has the ball and dribbles and wheels and spins and gets all the way to the basket. At some point we’ve got to hold our ground.”
(Photo: David Banks / Imagn Images)
