Despite ditching former All-Star wings Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan and former two-time All-Defensive Team guard Alex Caruso in exchange for young pieces and little draft equity by the end of the 2024-25 season, the Chicago Bulls\u00a0finished with a 39-43 record and the Eastern Conference’s No. 9 seed.<\/p>\n
Although the Bulls’ trades may have been seen as a tanking move, the club finally bought in to head coach Billy Donovan’s pace-and-space play style, and put the ball in the hands of young guards Coby White and Josh Giddey (whom Chicago acquired in its Caruso deal) with more frequency.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Bulls qualified for an Eastern Conference play-in tournament berth but missed the actual playoffs, as they have in each of the past three seasons.<\/p>\n
Beyond Giddey, only one player really gave fans hope for Chicago’s future in a new way (White had blossomed the season prior): 6-foot-10 rookie lottery pick Matas Buzelis.<\/p>\n
Last year, the 20-year-old showed off surprising athleticism and finishing ability, while improving his jumper from its G League Ignite days. Across 80 games, Buzelis averaged 8.6 points on .454\/.361\/.815 shooting splits, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.9 blocks. Buzelis finished seventh in Rookie of the Year voting (San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle won) and earned an All-Rookie Second Team honor.<\/p>\n
According to\u00a0Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune<\/a>, Buzelis and the Bulls have two major goals heading into the 2025-26 NBA season.<\/p>\n Matas Buzelis believes he can be great.<\/p>\n The path to that desired stardom starts with the ball in his hands.<\/p>\n The Bulls need Buzelis to take a major step this season. And after NBA Summer League, the forward feels prepared for the challenge.https:\/\/t.co\/twwkAKtsfr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Chicago Tribune Sports (@ChicagoSports) July 24, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n Chicago believes its 2025 All-Rookie small forward Matas Buzelis can change his play style heading into his second NBA season.<\/p>\n Now, Buzelis is hoping to develop his playmaking, as he tells Poe.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing a primary, secondary ball handler is like second nature to me,\u201d Buzelis said. \u201cI used to play (point guard) when I was younger, so it\u2019s not really anything new to me. I think it\u2019s just going to get better with time.\u201d<\/p>\n That’s not the only goal on the young rising star’s plate: he also wants to expand his leadership role on the team.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to be more vocal,\u201d Buzelis suggested.<\/p>\n MORE NEWS: NBA insider has theory on Josh Giddey, Bulls contract-talks<\/a><\/p>\n