Buzelis does not regret provoking Doncic: “I would do it again”

Matas Buzelis experienced firsthand what happens when you provoke Luka Doncic. The young player for the Chicago Bulls recalled an encounter with the Slovenian star where they exchanged words, and the current player for the Los Angeles Lakers responded in the best way possible: with a scoring exhibition.

Buzelis admitted that Doncic started trash-talking him and some of the things he said were particularly harsh. "I don't want to go into details because they were really unpleasant things," explained the Bulls player.

Far from being intimidated, Buzelis chose to accept the challenge. "He started demolishing me, 12 in a row, and I said to him, 'I don't care. Keep doing it. I don't care what you do. Keep scoring, we'll see if you can keep scoring'."

The scenario seemed in favor of Buzelis at halftime. The young player had 20 points, while Doncic had reached 22. "I was calm," he recalled. Even Vince Carter chimed in on the conversation with a phrase that summed up the exchange perfectly: "I'm back with you, kid."

However, what happened next turned that provocation into a lesson hard to forget. Buzelis ended the game with around 23 points, while Doncic rose to 50.

But there was a particular moment that the Chicago player remembers vividly. Doncic received the ball in isolation, executed one of his characteristic step-backs, and, according to Buzelis, even pointed directly at him while taking the shot.

"I'm not even trying to kiss up to him, but he shot... He was in isolation, did that step-back, and I think in mid-air, he pointed directly at me. I was in the corner, and he turned while shooting. And the shot went straight in. I thought, 'Oh my, this is not good'."

The outcome didn't favor Buzelis either. The Bulls ended up losing by around 20 points, and Doncic closed the night with an outstanding offensive performance.

Doncic and his classic trash talk

After the game, Buzelis admitted to the media that he probably wouldn't provoke Doncic in that way again. However, his subsequent words make it clear that it wasn't a very serious promise.

"I said in the media that I probably wouldn't trash-talk him again, but I really don't care. I'm going to do it again."

A statement that summarizes Buzelis' personality but also serves as a warning: if you decide to engage in a verbal battle with Luka Doncic, you better be prepared to face the consequences on the court.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Buzelis no se arrepiente de provocar a Doncic: “Lo volvería a hacer”