Matas Buzelis, the Chicago Bulls rookie who has Carmelo Anthony captivated

In a recent podcast interview, Carmelo Anthony, future Hall of Famer, praised the development of Matas Buzelis so far this season. The 2025 draft prospect believes the Chicago Bulls have a special player in the Lithuanian-American small forward. He thinks Buzelis could have been one of the best in his class if he hadn't gone to the NBA G-League.

In a recent episode of his podcast, 7PM in Brooklyn, Carmelo Anthony had only good things to say about Buzelis, the rookie small forward for the Bulls. He was impressed by his evolution from High School/AAU circuits to the G-League and now the Chicago Bulls: "I'm dying for Matas. He could have been the best draft pick. I think Chicago has something with Matas."

Instead of following the traditional college route, Buzelis chose to play in the NBA G-League Ignite. This choice allowed him to compete with a more experienced mix of prospects and former NBA players. Buzelis hoped that the G-League path would better prepare his development for the NBA with more common NBA schemes. Another notable player who chose this path was Houston Rockets' guard Jalen Green.

With the Ignite, Buzelis averaged 14.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 26 games. Additionally, Buzelis ranked among the top five shot-blockers with 2.1 blocks per game.

Instead of aiding his draft stock as intended, the Ignite ended up hurting him. According to Anthony, if Buzelis had opted for the NCAA, he would have been one of the best in his class. Buzelis fell out of the top 10, where the Bulls selected him at number 11. It is believed that the flawed system and management of the Ignite were reasons why Buzelis wasn't chosen within the top 5. After his lone season in the G-League, the NBA shuttered the Ignite because they didn't meet the anticipated goals.

If he had chosen the college route, Buzelis had official offers from Florida State, Kentucky, Wake Forest, and UNC.

The impressive growth of Matas Buzelis

Regardless of how his draft went, what matters is that the Bulls have been fortunate to land a top-10 talent at number 11. A talent cherished by fans and the public. A talent loved by fans and admired by a future Hall of Famer like Anthony.

In a final remark, Anthony and his counterpart share a joke about him becoming that something if Billy Donovan gave him more minutes. Since January 29, Buzelis has seen an increase in minutes and has shined on his own.

In his last 8 games, Buzelis has played 26 minutes per game. In that stretch, he has averaged 14.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. Also, he has shot 48.5% from three on 33 attempts. This run included a 24-point game without a missed field goal or free throw.

Anthony is keeping an eye on Buzelis' development, and the rest of the NBA should too. If a player like Anthony has praises for a young player like this, everyone should keep their eyes open. Bulls fans already knew it, but Anthony agrees that Chicago has something special with Buzelis.

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