The Chicago Bulls three most significant storylines heading into the 2024-25 NBA season were 1) the futures of Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic, 2) Lonzo Ball's long-awaited injury return and 3) the development of Matas Buzelis.
Buzelis, an Illinois native, fell to the 11th pick in the 2024 draft where Chicago gladly scooped him up. With 6-foot-10 size but a wing skill set, Buzelis has the potential to be an All-Star caliber player in the league.
Until a few weeks ago, the only one of those three storylines you could put a positive spin on was Lonzo's return. Despite injuring his wrist and missing more time, the 26-year-old has been one of the Bulls' best players this season.
LaVine remains untradeable despite being healthy and more productive than he's been in years. Vucevic is having a career year offensively but still won't fetch more than a couple second-round picks if Chicago can move him.
Buzelis got off to a rough start. Bulls Head Coach Billy Donovan kept him glued to the bench and the organization even dropped him down to the G League for a brief minute.
The tide has quickly turned, however. Now Buzelis is the brightest glimmer of hope in what's been, oddly, a simultaneously good and bad season.
Matas Buzelis has been one of the NBA's best rookies since Nov. 23
Buzelis broke out with a 14-point performance in a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Nov. 23. It was a career-high scoring night for the 20-year-old and, perhaps most importantly, came on an efficient 6-of-13 from the field and 2-of-5 from three.
On Dec. 2, he topped it by scoring 20 points, grabbing five rebounds and blocking two shots while hitting 7 of his 10 attempts from the field and 4 of his 5 threes. He backed that up by scoring 11 points and grabbing seven rebounds the next night, hitting another pair of 3-pointers.
In the eight games since that 14-point outburst, Buzelis leads all rookies who've also appeared in at least eight games in offensive rating (123.2) and true shooting percentage (59.0), and is second in effective field goal percentage (56.7) and net rating (8.2).
Simply put, he's been one of the best and most efficient scoring rookies.
But that's not why Donovan has loosened the reigns.
Buzelis has become an active defender
Also since Nov. 23, Buzelis is second among that same category of rookies in contested shots. The only player with more is Pelicans center Yves Missi, who averages 29.0 minutes compared to Buzelis' 19.8.
Contesting a shot isn't difficult. It comes down to effort and being in the right place. Buzelis had the first trait when he entered the league, but Donovan needed to see the second. That's what kept the rookie on the bench early in the season.
Buzelis is learning quickly, though, and is already beginning to earn trust from his head coach.
Billy Donovan said he played Matas Buzelis for that extended, 15-minute consecutive stretch because of his activity, physicality and rebounding---even though Buzelis shot just 2-for-7
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 8, 2024
Buzelis: "I think he's gaining more trust with me. I'm ready. And I'm going to take advantage."
With regular starter Patrick Williams set to return from injury, it will be interesting to see how Donovan fills the power forward spot. Buzelis is proving he's ready for a more significant role while Williams has continued to struggle.
Based on his growth in less than two months, it's time to put the 20-year-old into the starting lineup and let him cook.