While the Portland Trail Blazers were overmatched in their first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs, Deni Avdija proved his breakout season was no fluke. The Chicago Bulls may have the NBA's next emergent star in Matas Buzelis — if the new regime doesn't screw it up.
Buzelis took an unmistakable jump between his rookie and sophomore seasons. He turned brief flashes of star potential in 2024-25 into reality. He's the franchise's best shot at a superstar.
But the Bulls are an organization without direction. They have an empty front office and no head coach. If CEO Michael Reinsdorf can hire the right people to fill those two holes — a monumental if, admittedly — Buzelis has the tools to bypass the "good player" designation and move straight to All-Star.
Matas Buzelis is poised for Deni Avdija-level leap
Matas Buzelis looks primed and ready to become an NBA storyline next season in the same way Avdija just did.
The Chicago native nearly doubled his scoring average from his first season (8.6 points) to his second (16.3). Despite a leap in attempts, his field-goal percentage rose from 45.4 to 46.3. He hit 2.2 threes per game last season compared to 1.2 in his debut campaign, and he got to the free-throw line more than twice as often.
Buzelis took on a much larger role after the Bulls' run of disappointing trade deadline moves — and thrived.
Over his final 25 games, he averaged 18.9 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.6 blocks. He scored a career-high 41 points in an overtime win against the Golden State Warriors. He made at least four 3-pointers in eight of those 25 games. In a Feb. 24 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, he poured in 32 points in 33 minutes on 13-for-19 shooting from the field and 6-for-11 from three.
The 2024 lottery pick became the focus of opposing defenses, and he didn't just take it in stride; he took it personally. It’s not just his combination of size and explosiveness that points to a special future — Buzelis has the mental makeup front offices drool over.
New Bulls leadership must prioritize Buzelis’ development
Chicago's head of basketball operations job carries some perks.
The Bulls have two top-15 picks in a loaded 2026 draft, all their own first-round selections going forward and 12 second-rounders over the next seven years. They'll have $65 million in cap space this summer, more than any other team in the league.
But even with all those alluring assets come no guarantees. The closest thing the organization does have to a guarantee is Buzelis. And it can't afford to waste him.
Add us as a preferred source on Google