Last Updated on July 24, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Matas Buzelis entered the professional ranks with significant expectations thanks to his combination of size, skill, and versatility on the wing. Comfortable handling the ball, creating offense, and defending multiple positions, he has been viewed as a modern prospect whose game fits the direction basketball continues to evolve.
Player Profile
- Full Name: Matas Arvidas Buzelis
- Nationality: Lithuanian / American
- Date of Birth: October 13, 2004
- Hometown: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Height: 6 feet 10 inches (208 cm)
- Weight: 209 pounds (95 kg)
- Wingspan: 7 feet 2 inches (218cm)
- Shoe Size: Size 17 (US)
- Position: Small Forward
- Jersey Number: 14
- High School:
- Hinsdale Central High School (Hinsdale, Illinois)
- Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, New Hampshire)
- Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kansas)
- Professional Path:
- Opted to forgo college basketball
- Joined NBA G League Ignite for the 2023–2024 season
- NBA Draft: Selected 11th overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2024 NBA Draft
- Teams Played For:
- NBA G League Ignite (2023–2024)
- Chicago Bulls (2024–present)
- Windy City Bulls (2024–2025, on assignment)
- Achievements:
- NBA G League Next Up Game: 2024
- McDonald’s All-American: 2023
- Jordan Brand Classic: 2023
- Nike Hoop Summit: 2022
- Gatorade Kansas Boys Basketball Player of the Year: 2022–2023
- Family:
- Parents:
- Father: Aidas Buzelis, a former professional basketball player in Lithuania
- Mother: Kristina Jankauskaitė, also a former basketball player in Lithuania
- Siblings:
- Sister: Sophia Buzelis, a collegiate lacrosse player at Furman University
- Brother: Vincas Buzelis, an emerging basketball player
- Children: None
- Parents:
Player Archetype / Play Style
Matas Buzelis’ player archetype is that of a tall shot-creating forward, blending point-forward instincts with the size and fluidity of a modern combo wing. Defensively, he projects as a versatile helper more than a bruising interior anchor, using his timing, agility, and length to contest shots at the rim, rotate across the lane, and stay attached on the perimeter when switched onto wings. Offensively, his role is rooted in complementary creation: he can handle in space, attack closeouts, finish above the rim, move in transition, and make connective passes, while also offering some spot-up value even though his jumper has been viewed as more promising than fully polished. Physically, Buzelis stands out for his near 6-foot-10 size, smooth coordination, and mobile athleticism, giving him the look of a big wing rather than a traditional forward. Overall, his play style is built on versatility and upside, with his best stretches coming when he is slashing, pushing the ball, making quick reads, and using his defensive instincts to impact multiple areas of the floor. (NBADraft.net)
Scouting Report
What stands out with Matas Buzelis is how comfortable he is playing in the spaces between traditional positions rather than trying to dominate one specific role. He attacks closeouts with long, controlled strides, rarely looking rushed, and has a knack for keeping his dribble alive just long enough for passing angles to develop instead of forcing difficult finishes. His handle is fluid for his size, but it’s more about changing pace than breaking defenders down in isolation, and he’s at his best flowing from secondary actions, ghost screens or quick DHOs where he can catch the defense shifting. The jumper looks clean, although he can drift through the release and his consistency comes and goes when defenders crowd his base, while added strength would make him more effective finishing through contact and holding deep post position. Defensively, I like him most as a help defender rather than someone asked to erase primary scorers every possession. He’s quick to slide into low-man rotations, uses his length to bother shots without constantly chasing blocks, and can survive switches because his feet stay under him, but stronger forwards can dislodge him and physical drivers occasionally dictate the matchup before he has a chance to recover. That’s where the trade-off is: his game is built on timing, coordination and feel more than force. To me, the ideal environment surrounds him with reliable creators who let him attack tilted defenses while giving him freedom to roam defensively instead of wrestling with bigger bodies for forty possessions. His combination of length, ball skill and connective passing brings shades of Lamar Odom’s fluidity, while some of the off-ball movement and defensive rotations resemble a leaner version of Andrei Kirilenko, even if he doesn’t mirror either player stylistically.
Fun Facts
- Matas Buzelis was originally expected to be one of the top picks in the 2024 NBA Draft; however, he was a late lottery pick. The Bulls have referred to Buzelis as their only untouchable player, without so much as mentioning Josh Giddey, who had a very good 2024-25 season and looks to me as being a future NBA star capable of being a multiple-time All-Star. Rather than Giddey taking offense to that, it’s probably a testament to how highly the Bulls value Buzelis; they could be looking at him as a number 1 overall pick who somehow fell to them.
- Matas Buzelis wasn’t featured in his 6th-grade basketball team; he was on the bench during games. Buzelis didn’t like basketball at that age and was more focused on swimming.
Player Insights
The Chicago Bulls’s GM Marc Eversley said that the only player on their roster who is untouchable is Matas Buzelis. That’s high praise for Buzelis since he had hardly pieced together any strong games in the NBA before they said that. Since the Bulls said that, he has gotten more minutes and has been quite productive. If I judge Buzelis’s production on the court and what the Bulls said about him when they did, I can only assume that Buzelis works hard and puts in a lot of time in the Bulls’s practice facility, The Advocate Center, which is giving them the impression that he is going to be their best player. I caution against this modern-day understanding of basketball. Lewis Hamilton is famous for not spending much time with F1 when he’s not at the track and credits getting away from it for his success. Everyone is different. My favorite player on the Bulls roster currently is Josh Giddey. I would feel disrespected by what the Bulls said if I were Giddey. (Written March 16, 2026)
Sources:
NBADraft.net — Matas Buzelis
NBA.com — Matas Buzelis – NBA 2024 Draft Prospects
NBA Draft Room — Matas Buzelis
RealGM — Matas Buzelis Player Profile, Chicago Bulls