Matas Buzelis isn't shy about saying what he wants to accomplish with the Bulls. Before the season, he said bluntly that he wants to win Most Improved Player and that he wants the Bulls to win a championship because, "You should be going for that every year. I don't care what kind of team you have. You should be striving and having big dreams for every year that you're in the NBA..."
He said it with his chest. And that's beautiful. The quasi-brashness, the public confidence in himself and his team, and the work ethic (which Buzelis certainly seems to possess) to back up any bold claims is reminiscent of a young Jimmy Butler. And while Butler's tenure in Chicago was cut too short in hindsight, he still made his mark over the six seasons he played in the Windy City.
Buzelis appears to have the fire that Butler played with. That's exactly what Bulls fans have been looking for in a prospect; well, that fire and the skill level to match it, anyway. Buzelis might be the best combo of skill and desire of any Bulls prospect since Jimmy, and that's a pretty exciting thought.
And while the off-court confidence is present with Buzelis, the on-court achievements could have some parallels with Butler, too. He was an All-Defense selection by year three, Most Improved Player in year four, and a bona fide star by year five. If Buzelis' career follows that same trajectory, then the Bulls front office will have its signature win. And boy, does this front office need exactly that.
Matas Buzelis makes his goals clear with Bulls
A Most Improved Player award does not seem out of reach for Buzelis — but it likely won't happen this year. That's not his fault at all, though; second-year players are expected to be vastly improved from their rookie seasons, so awards voters seldom give them love on ballots unless the improvement is massive.
But even if the odds are stacked against him historically, I love that Buzelis was clear about his personal goals for this year. Manifestation is powerful, you know! Say out loud what you want, and watch it come to you. Buzelis is taking the astrological approach here.
All-Star and All-Defense nods are both feasible in the future, too. Buzelis' length and agility could eventually turn him into a versatile defensive force, and we've already seen enough of his creation upside to believe that All-Star contention isn't too far out.
I'm getting ahead of myself here; the 21 year-old already has plenty on his plate. But what we've seen and heard from him in the year-plus he's been a Bull definitely calls for optimism about his future as the face of this franchise.