MATAS BUZELIS ON THE RISING STARS GAME, HIS DEVELOPMENT, AND THE CHALLENGE AHEAD FOR THE BULLS

🚨 FROM RISING STARS TO ALL-STAR DREAMS: Matas Buzelis, the Chicago Bulls’ forward, is taking part in the NBA Rising Stars game on Friday night in Inglewood, California. While it’s an honor to be included in the event, Buzelis, at 21 years old, isn’t satisfied with just participating. The Rising Stars event—where rookies, second-year players, and G League talents showcase their skills—may be a valuable milestone, but it’s just one step on his bigger journey.

“Everything is exciting for me still,” Buzelis said before heading to Los Angeles for the weekend’s All-Star festivities. “Anything you get to participate in is an honor and exciting. But I’m not going to lie: Yeah, I want to be in that Sunday game for sure.”

The All-Star Game has always been Buzelis’ ultimate goal. After being drafted 11th overall by the Bulls in the 2024 NBA Draft, his dream has been to join the ranks of the NBA’s best. However, as he’s learned in his early career, the path to that goal doesn’t come without some setbacks and disappointments.

THE CHALLENGE OF ADJUSTING TO A NEW TEAM

Buzelis, who showed promise in his rookie season with the Bulls, has faced some difficulties after a significant roster overhaul. The team traded away several veteran leaders—Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Kevin Huerter—before the trade deadline last week. While this opens up opportunities for younger players like Buzelis, it has also come with growing pains.

Buzelis has had his moments, but he hasn’t yet had the breakout performances seen from fellow rookies like Cooper Flagg (Mavericks) or Kon Knueppel (Hornets). His recent performances have been more of a tease than a trend, and he’s well aware of the gap between his potential and the current reality.

“I’m fully capable of becoming a great player, and this is just the process it’s going to be for me,” Buzelis said. “But I know for a fact that every year, I’m going to get better as a player. I know that will happen. I’m going to work extremely hard, push myself until exhaustion to become that player. I’m more worried about this team, and as a collective group, what [we can] achieve. I’m all up for the challenge of becoming whatever people say or believe: All-Star, yada, yada.”

THE BULLS’ COACHING STAFF WEIGHS IN

While Buzelis continues to develop, the Chicago Bulls are still trying to find their footing. Head coach Billy Donovan pointed out that it’s not just about individual production but about team cooperation. The Bulls have struggled with team chemistry throughout the season, as shown by their poor assist numbers—just eight assists in the first half against the Boston Celtics.

“Nobody is going to look good when you’re not helping each other,” Donovan remarked. This issue isn’t just limited to Buzelis or Patrick Williams; it’s a broader issue that the Bulls need to address as they aim for more cohesive play.

THE BULLS’ STRUGGLES AND BUZELIS’ PERSPECTIVE

The Bulls are 24-31 on the season, currently on a six-game losing streak. With the team on the outside looking in at the play-in tournament, Buzelis knows that things aren’t easy. But he’s not one to dwell on the disappointment.

“It’s hard, but what can you do?” he said. “You’re not going home and crying about it. You’ve just got to wake up and get back to work. I do understand that it’s going to be difficult to get into a groove as a team, but we’re all up for that challenge. Sooner or later, the sun will shine.”

For now, Buzelis is focusing on his growth and the chance to contribute to a team in transition. The road to becoming an NBA All-Star will take time, but Buzelis’ mindset shows he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get there.

LOOKING AHEAD: A CHANCE TO SHINE AT RISING STARS

As he takes the court at the Rising Stars event, Buzelis is focused on making the most of the opportunity. “This game is the league’s future, and there is a lot of hype around some of these guys,” he said. “I’m looking forward to going out there and competing against them, sharing a moment, building relationships with them. But if it goes down to a one-on-one situation against any guy, we’re going at each other, and that’s just how it is.”

For now, the focus is on his development and contribution to the Bulls. If he continues to work on his game, there’s no doubt that he will be a key figure for the Bulls’ future. While the 2025-26 season has been a difficult one for Chicago, Buzelis is ready to face the challenge head-on, with the ultimate goal of achieving All-Star status still firmly in his sights.