Chicago, IL – In a league where young stars rise and fall with the unpredictability of a last-second buzzer-beater, Matas Buzelis is etching his name into NBA lore faster than anyone could’ve scripted. The Chicago Bulls’ sophomore sensation has ignited the United Center with a breakout offensive explosion that’s left the NBA world buzzing—and the Bulls faithful in pure ecstasy. Through just three games into the 2025-26 season, Buzelis isn’t just playing; he’s dominating, averaging a scorching 13.3 points per game on 45.2% shooting, alongside 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.0 blocks. This isn’t the tentative rookie from a year ago. This is the All-Star-caliber force Chicago has been salivating over since drafting him ninth overall in 2024.
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Head coach Billy Donovan, the grizzled tactician with a championship pedigree, set the tone early. Ahead of the Bulls’ regular-season opener, Donovan dropped a candid gem on his budding star: “He has not arrived. He just hasn’t. And that’s just the truth. And I love Matas and think he’s got an unbelievable runway to be an outstanding player in this league if he keeps his drive and his motivation and doesn’t think he’s arrived.” It wasn’t a dig at Buzelis’ raw talent—Donovan knows all too well the 21-year-old’s limitless ceiling. Instead, it was a masterclass in humility, a deliberate nudge to keep the 6-foot-10 forward’s feet planted firmly on the court while his ambitions soared.
And boy, has that approach reaped dividends. Donovan’s trust in Buzelis has manifested in ways that transcend mere minutes logged. Take the Bulls’ gritty opener against the Orlando Magic: Buzelis racked up early foul trouble, dancing on the razor’s edge of ejection. Most coaches would’ve yanked him to preserve their rotation. Not Donovan. He left his young gun on the floor, betting on Buzelis’ poise under pressure. The gamble nearly backfired—Buzelis fouled out midway through the fourth quarter, limping to the bench with a modest three points. But that moment? It was a blip, a teaching tool in a season scripted for growth. “We’re building something here,” Donovan said postgame. “Matas is part of the foundation, and foundations get tested.”
What followed that hiccup has been nothing short of electric. Buzelis has transformed from a promising piece into the Bulls’ offensive heartbeat, silencing doubters and electrifying a fanbase starved for homegrown hope. His evolution isn’t hyperbole—it’s etched in the stat sheet, a testament to expanded responsibility that’s unlocked three pivotal facets of his game: rim-attacking ferocity, pull-up prowess, and a ballooning role as a primary creator.
Attacking the Rim: From Finisher to Predator
Gone are the days when Buzelis lurked on the wing, content as a spot-up assassin or opportunistic cutter. As a rookie, he mustered just 2.7 drives per game, converting a pedestrian 44.7% of them. He was efficient in spurts but predictable—a finisher, not a hunter. Fast-forward to now, and the Lithuanian-born phenom is prowling like a point-forward in waiting. He’s ballooned to 6.3 drives per contest—fourth on the Bulls behind only Zach LaVine, Coby White, and Ayo Dosunmu—and the results are mouthwatering.
Buzelis is feasting to the tune of 5.3 points per game off drives, sinking 60.0% of those attempts. Picture this: a hesitation dribble at the top of the key, eyes locked on the rim, before exploding baseline for a thunderous one-handed flush. Or a Eurostep that leaves defenders grasping air, drawing fouls like clockwork. “He’s got that burst now,” teammate DeMar DeRozan marveled after a recent win. “You see the confidence—it’s not forced. It’s instinct.” Analysts agree: at his size and skill set, Buzelis could—and should—be Chicago’s go-to slasher, especially with LaVine’s lingering injury concerns. If he sustains this aggression, expect those assist numbers to tick up as defenses collapse and kick-outs multiply.
Pull-Ups Unleashed: Adding a Deadly Dimension
Buzelis’ rookie campaign was a masterclass in simplicity: 93% of his shots came at the rim or off catch-and-shoot jumpers. Effective? Sure. Versatile? Hardly. Enter sophomore swagger. Now, one-fifth of his field-goal attempts stem from pull-ups off the dribble—a seismic shift that’s injected unpredictability into Chicago’s half-court sets.
He’s logging one pull-up two-pointer and one pull-up three per game, and here’s the shocker: he’s cashing them at a clip better than his catch-and-shoot looks. Through three outings, Buzelis is stroking 42.9% from deep on pull-ups (small sample, but potent) versus 35.7% on spot-ups. It’s the kind of mid-range menace that evokes memories of a young Paul George—step-back twos that slither through seams, off-balance threes that kiss the iron softly. “The work in the gym is paying off,” Buzelis said with a grin after torching the Knicks for 18 points last week. “Coach tells me to hunt my shot, so I’m hunting.”
This isn’t volume for vanity’s sake. These pull-ups are chaining defenses, forcing rotations that spring teammates for open looks. In a Bulls offense craving creation beyond LaVine, Buzelis’ off-dribble bag is the X-factor turning good possessions into great ones.
Touches and Responsibility: The Mark of a Star
The numbers scream integration: Buzelis’ touches have nearly doubled, from 25.2 as a wide-eyed rookie to 44.7 now. But it’s the quality that stuns. Seconds per touch? Up from 2.1 to 3.4. Dribbles per touch? From 1.8 to 3.2. Time of possession line? Ballooned by 45 seconds per game. He’s not just seeing the ball more because of extra minutes (he’s averaging 28.1, a solid bump from 22.4); he’s commanding it.
Donovan’s philosophy shines here—no more curtailed role as a glorified spot-up threat. Buzelis is woven into the fabric of Chicago’s motion offense, initiating actions from the elbow, flashing to the short corner, or iso-ing secondary defenders. His field-goal attempts have surged 28%, threes by 35%, and free throws by a whopping 52%. It’s green-light gospel, and he’s preaching efficiency with every bucket.
The leap is visceral. Fans who chanted his name during Summer League now roar as he dissects traps. “This is what we drafted him for,” Bulls GM Marc Eversley beamed. “A guy who can score at all three levels, create for others, and grow with us.”
The Horizon: Facilitation and Beyond
Buzelis hasn’t crested the summit yet. Developing as a facilitator—turning those drives into dimes, probing for kick-outs—remains the next frontier. His 1.3 assists per game hint at vision untapped; imagine him dishing to Josh Giddey in pick-and-rolls or finding Patrick Williams on flares. Defensively, his 1.0 blocks underscore rim protection potential, but consistency against quicker guards will define his two-way impact.
For now, though, this is Buzelis unbound: a creator who’s shed the “promising” label like a snake molting skin. The NBA is stunned, the Bulls are buoyant, and Chicago’s faithful? They’re living the dream they’ve anticipated since that draft-night confetti fell. Matas Buzelis isn’t arriving—he’s arrived. And the league better brace for the aftershocks.