If you wanted a sneak peek at what the Chicago Bulls may have gotten in Matas Buzelis as a future player for the franchise, look no further than the 1st half of the Summer League opener against the Milwaukee Bucks. The 11th overall pick showcased that intriguing mix of size, length, and athleticism on both ends of the floor. In just under 15 minutes on the court, he had 10 points, three rebounds, and two blocks. By far, the best sequence of the game started with under two minutes to go.
Chicago led 43-38. Milwaukee point guard A.J. Johnson, who’d been having a good first half as well, drove to the basket. Buzelis shuffled his feet without fouling and swatted the ball out of the air as Johnson went up for a layup. This led to a fast break opportunity that finished with an emphatic Julian Phillips dunk.
Buzelis wasn’t done, though. With 29 seconds left, he got the ball behind the arc. The rookie proceeded to put some sweet moves on MarJon Beauchamp, including a between-the-legs crossover, followed by a smooth jumper for two.
That includes the good and bad. He was an active defender while showcasing tons of his ball-handling skill on offense. However, there were also snippets of the shooting issues that experts warned about before the draft. He went 1-for-3 from downtown and 3-for-10 from inside the arc. That is not the efficiency the Bulls will be looking for. Still, it is important to remember Buzelis is only 19 years old. He is only starting to become an adult. It usually takes some time before players find their shot. Nobody argues he has the work ethic and talent to evolve his game.
The Bulls should be happy with how he’s looked. The building blocks are already flashing. There is nothing passive about Matas Buzelis. He isn’t scared. The guy doesn’t mind being a distributor but isn’t afraid to command the ball as well. Usually, it is one way or the other with rookies. Never mind the willingness to step up on defense. This kid is somebody Chicago will learn to love in a big way if he blossoms as the organization hopes he does over the next year or so.
