Matas Buzelis’ performances have caught the eye lately. The Chicago Bulls rookie has made 53 appearances in his debut campaign and is growing into a consistent performer.

Buzelis, the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, is proving that he has the potential to be a future star in the Windy City.

He has averaged 6.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.5 assists in 14.8 minutes per game so far this season.

In the last 8 games, he has scored 11 points or more. The best of those performances came against the Miami Heat, when he scored 24 points on 10-10 shooting, including four three-pointers. It was a glimpse at what Buzelis could develop into.

NBA legend Carmelo Anthony very much loves the skill set of the rookie. He recently said on ‘7PM in Brooklyn’:

“He could have went to any school he wanted to. He would’ve been a top pick. But I think Chicago have something with Matas.”

Buzelis chose to join the NBA’s G-League Ignite rather than pursue the traditional college pathway.

This move allowed him to play alongside a more seasoned group of prospective and former NBA players.

Anthony appears to believe that Buzelis would have been a top draft pick in his class if he had chosen to go to college. So, it seems like the Bulls have been fortunate to get a top-10 talent with the 11th pick.

With Zach LaVine being traded to the Sacramento Kings and the Bulls not chasing wins, there is room for a player like Buzelis to grow in this environment and we are already seeing signs of that.

Buzelis has seen a rise in minutes lately. He has been playing an average of 26 minutes per game over the past 8 games. He has averaged 14.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks over that time.