Matas Buzelis
Matas Arvidas Buzelis, born on October 13, 2004, in Chicago, Illinois, USA, is a talented Lithuanian-American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Buzelis, a forward, was the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft by the Bulls.
Before his professional career, Buzelis had a distinguished high school career, attending Hinsdale Central in Hinsdale, Illinois, Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, and Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas. He was widely considered a five-star recruit and one of the best players in the class of 2023, according to major recruiting services.
Instead of taking the college route, Buzelis opted to play professionally for the NBA G League Ignite. He officially signed with the Ignite on May 31, 2023. During the 2023-24 G-League season, Buzelis demonstrated his potential, averaging 14.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.
Following his stint with the G League Ignite, Buzelis was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 2024 draft. He signed a 4-year contract worth $23.9 million with the Bulls on July 2, 2024. His NBA debut occurred on October 23, 2024, in a game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
Matas Buzelis also has a national team career, having committed to playing for the Lithuanian National Team in international competitions since July 21, 2022.
Standing at 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) and weighing 95 kg (209 lb), Buzelis plays at the power forward and small forward positions. Among his career achievements and honors are selection to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2025), the NBA G League Next Up Game (2024), and McDonald’s All-American (2023), Jordan Brand Classic (2023), and Nike Hoop Summit (2022) honors.
