The midseason break for the National Basketball Association has commenced. For some players, they get about a week away from their teams while some get to spend a few days showing out on a national stage in various games and events.
Chicago Bulls do not have much going for them this season especially after shipping their best players out of town after years of mediocrity. One sign of hope is their rookie Matas Buzelis (Hinsdale Central).
Buzelis was announced earlier this month as a participant of the Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star weekend in San Francisco. It turned out to not be the only event he would be involved in during the weekend.
He replaced New Orleans Pelicans center Yves Missi in the 2025 Castrol Rising Star Game on Friday evening. The rookie becomes the 19th Bulls players to be selected to participate in a Rising Stars Game and the first since Ayo Dosunmu (Morgan Park) who participate in 2022 and 2023.
Buzelis and Team M suffered a loss 40-39 against Team League in the second game of the evening. He had four points (2-4 FG, 0-1 3PT) with two rebounds, an assist, a steal, a turnover, and a +1 plus-minus in 9:17.
Buzelis has appeared in 53 games including four starts. He averages 6.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 14.8 minutes per game so far this season.
Things are looking up as he been getting more time on the court to showcase his skills. Over the last nine Bulls game, Buzelis has played 19 or more minutes in each game and is averaging 13.6 points on 61 percent shooting during that span.
The rookie enters the weekend on career-long double-digit scoring streak, spanning eight-straight games (1/29-2/13), which is the longest streak of 10-plus points among all rookie forwards in 2024-25 (via BULLS PR).
One former player that has taken a liking to what Buzelis has to offer is NBA legend Carmelo Anthony.
Anthony spoke about Buzelis with Chicago native and comedian Lil Rel recently on the 7PM in Brooklyn podcast.
That is high-praise from the future hall of famer. Maybe this video is enough to persuade the Chicago Bulls coaching staff to unleash the young star in the second half.
Skies the limit for Buzelis, all he needs is the full go from the organization to take off.
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