Matas Buzelis entered the NBA as the 11th pick for the Chicago Bulls, but he has the confidence of a guy who went #1.
The 6-foot-9 forward has impressed so far in Summer League with his ability to score from all three levels, as well as his shot creation and touch around the rim.
Buzelis is no stranger to controversy and isn’t afraid to back himself, as he already ruffled some feathers when he called out first pick Zaccharie Risacher, challenging him to a game of one-on-one before the draft:
Potential top-5 NBA pick Matas Buzelis sits down with @Stadium: “I respect Zach (Risacher) as a player…He just doesn’t want to see me. I’m just going to keep it real with everybody.”
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 25, 2024
On “disrespect” of Ignite shutdown; Franz Wagner, PG, Andrei Kirilenko, Jaden McDaniels; more: pic.twitter.com/nZpLsoCkVp
Buzelis believes in himself and isn’t afraid to say it, as he did in a recent interview that will not endear him to his fellow rookies.
Matas Buzelis thinks he will win Rookie of the Year for the Chicago Bulls
In a recent interview with HoopsHype, Buzelis talked about where he thinks he stands among rookies and how things will go in his first season in the league among other topics.
Here’s some of what he had to say:
"I think that I can do everything. Rebound, block shots, score the ball. I can pass the ball. I feel like I can do everything on the court, honestly. "
This was after being asked why he believes he’s the best rookie.
Buzelis added that he thought he would win Rookie of the Year and that he’s the best player in this draft, and that includes the top two picks, Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr.
He talked about being “humble” but that he was very confident in his skills:
"Well, my dad always told me to be humble, but I feel like I work harder than anybody in this draft class, and that’s where the confidence comes from. I’m not one of those guys that just talk for no reason. I really work hard on my game, so that’s why I’m confident in my abilities. "
This may seem like hubris, but what would you expect him to say? If you don’t have confidence, you won’t last long in league of elite talent.
I also like that this will potentially stoke some rivalries between him and some of the other rookies, as the NBA is lacking in this area, and let’s face it, watching Buzelis take on Risacher will be one of the only reasons to watch the Bulls or Hawks next season.
Buzelis will have to back it up on the court, but I love that he has a little swagger and isn’t afraid to call out the competition.