NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
Matas Buzelis has progressed from earning his place in the Chicago Bulls’ rotation to swiftly becoming a starter under Billy Donovan, positioning himself as a contender for the NBA Rookie of the Year accolade.
Following the victory of French talent Victor Wembanyama in this category last year, the 20-year-old Lithuanian forward faces a challenging road in the latter part of the 2024-25 regular season, especially when compared to his fellow rookies.
“Without a doubt, I have aspirations to win that award,” he shared candidly during a media availability on Wednesday, shortly after participating in the AT&T Slam Dunk and Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star weekend. “I also aim to secure as many victories as I can, but performing well in games is essential to enter that conversation.”
In his last ten outings, Buzelis has averaged 12.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, which has raised his overall averages for the season to 6.3 points and 2.9 rebounds.
“I truly believe I can make a serious push for it. I’m manifesting it,” he remarked about his late-season bid for Rookie of the Year. “I have confidence in my abilities. It’s crucial to focus on defense, maintain pace, play on both ends, and support my teammates. The ball gravitates towards energetic players, and that’s my approach.”
Currently, the Bulls sit at 22-34, placing them tenth in the Eastern Conference, at the lower end of the Play-In territory.
