After a surprisingly strong start, the Chicago Bulls have come crashing back to reality. Now 9–8 and sitting eighth in the Eastern Conference, Chicago is coming off a dismal 13-point loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.
Since starting 6–1, the Bulls have spiraled. They’ve dropped five straight, stolen a bizarre win over the Denver Nuggets, squeaked past a shorthanded Portland Trail Blazers, been smoked by the Miami Heat, survived the lowly Washington Wizards, and then somehow managed to lose to a two-win Pelicans squad in humiliating fashion.
Matas Buzelis has hit a rough patch
Yet amid this chaotic stretch, Matas Buzelis’ struggles have gone largely unnoticed. The 21-year-old isn’t in a full-fledged sophomore slump, but his minutes have fluctuated, his shooting has dipped, and his overall impact has been minimal.
Over his last five games, Buzelis has averaged 10.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.6 turnovers while shooting just 40.4 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from three. He’s also a minus-7.6 during this stretch. For comparison, the 6-foot-10 forward opened the season averaging 15.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 2.0 turnovers on 48.5 percent shooting and 40.0 percent from deep over his first 12 games — a span in which he posted a plus-1.0.
Beyond the counting stats, Buzelis’ minutes have dipped from 29.0 to 23.4 over his last five games — even as the Bulls deal with a rash of injuries. That subtle but significant reduction in playing time has been the most jarring change.
Billy Donovan has his prized sophomore on perhaps the second-shortest leash on the team, trailing only 18-year-old rookie Noa Essengue. Time and again, he yanks Buzelis off the floor after mistakes like turnovers or defensive lapses.
It’s certainly a questionable tactic, one that has drawn the ire of fans, but it doesn’t mean Buzelis didn't ask for it. From day one, he has preached accountability. After a 31-point outing in his rookie season, the former G-League Ignite product said he wanted to be "pushed to the limit." Buzelis has also stated that when he’s pulled from a game for a mistake, he uses it as motivation to improve.
Even prior to the start of this season, Donovan blatantly said, "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."
Buzelis’ role is central to Chicago’s success
Donovan certainly has faith in Buzelis’ potential, but he’s well aware of the sophomore’s growing pains, which have become more evident recently, at a time when the Bulls need their best version of him. Chicago isn’t necessarily on the brink of a playoff push, but the team is entering a crucial stretch that will help determine whether it can contend in the postseason.
After the Bulls’ strong start, there was optimism they could make some noise in the weakened Eastern Conference. While not on the level of a true contender, there seemed to be no reason Chicago couldn’t maintain a top-six record—especially given the state of the rest of the conference, which currently sees Detroit, Toronto, and Miami as the top three squads.
Yet an imbalance has stalled Chicago’s hopes of competing. The Bulls lack size, physicality, and defense, three areas Buzelis should theoretically help with. Despite being the team’s lone lanky forward (besides Essengue, who's played six minutes this year), he’s ill-equipped to handle opposing wings, who have routinely dropped 30 or more points on Chicago.
The Bulls’ offense has been fine, as it was for most of last season, but it’s still perimeter-oriented and guard-focused. Buzelis’ driving and finishing at the rim have been a boon, but in recent games, his impact has waned as he’s become mistake-averse, leading him to rely more on spot-up three-pointers.
Giving Buzelis more freedom seems to benefit the Bulls’ offense. Even if he turns the ball over more often, it can be worthwhile if he’s scoring more efficiently and putting up bigger point totals.
Yet here we are: the Bulls face a Buzelis conundrum. He’s an ascending young talent, but just how much can he help a supposed contender? Chicago clearly has an identity crisis—one that may never be fully resolved under the watchful eye of Artūras Karnišovas. The Bulls are neither like the Wizards, who give ample minutes to developing prospects, nor like the ascending Raptors, who limit action for notable lottery picks. Chicago is somewhere in between—a very fine line.
Thus, the fine line only magnifies the issue. Buzelis isn’t quite ready to take off, yet he’s also not a player the Bulls can afford to sit for long stretches. Donovan must find the right path forward, and it may not be a simple balance. The choice is either limiting Buzelis’ minutes in favor of a better defender like Isaac Okoro or a more reliable shooter like Kevin Huerter, or letting the 21-year-old play through his mistakes, potentially unlocking a greater and more consistent impact as seen at the beginning of the season.