Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis to participate in slam dunk contest at All-Star Weekend

Fans will finally get to see Chicago's rookie on a National stage.

Dec 2, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) dunks against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Dec 2, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) dunks against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images | Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Matas Buzelis may not see much of the floor for his own team, but the Chicago Bulls rookie is about to get the chance to show off his skills in front of the entire NBA world.

According to Shams Charania of ESPN, the 20-year-old is set to participate in one of the oldest of All-Star traditions.

Bulls' Matas Buzelis to compete in slam dunk contest at NBA All-Star Weekend

Buzelis, along with San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle, will partake in the dunk contest at 2025 All-Star Weekend in San Francisco.

The pair of lottery picks will take up two of the four spots in the contest, which will be held on Feb. 15. The other two have yet to be announced.

While Castle is one of the leading candidates to take home this season's Rookie of the Year Award, Buzelis is having a difficult time getting legitimate minutes. He's averaging 12.8 this season through 42 games with no starts.

The 13th pick in the 2024 draft is averaging 4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds while shooting 37.6 percent from the field and 33.0 percent from three. With Bulls Head Coach Billy Donovan clearly prioritizing winning over player development, Buzelis will likely continue to see limited action.

Hopefully, he at least gets a chance to show off at All-Star Weekend, albeit in what's become consistently one of its most disappointing events.

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