Bulls' rookie report card midway through the year: Buzelis hitting a "learning curve"

Following several seasons of mediocracy, the Chicago Bulls finally earned a lottery pick last season—their first since 2020. The Bulls used the rare lotto pick to select former G-League Ignite forward Matas Buzelis 11th in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Coming out of the G-League, Buzelis was advertised as long, athletic, and competitive with point-forward potential. However, the 6-foot-10 forward came with a big asterisk. After suiting up for the Ignite, Buzelis was commonly labeled as unrefined, like most of his counterparts who skipped college to play for the now-defunct squad.

Upon being drafted, Buzelis saw little playing time to begin his career. However, he carved out a larger role in November. Billy Donovan entrusted Buzelis with 13.0 minutes per game, and the rookie responded by averaging 5.3 points and converting 39.7 percent of his field goals. Buzelis saw another uptick in minutes in December. He chipped in 6.6 points in 16.6 minutes per game.

Then came January. Although it's a small sample size, Buzelis has averaged only 3.4 points and 2.2 rebounds across five appearances. Since seeing a steady increase in playing time, Buzelis' minutes have decreased to 11.4 minutes per game. The rookie has connected on 6-of-14 field goals and 3-of-9 three-pointers. Despite seemingly hitting the proverbial "rookie wall," Buzelis has insisted that he's in for a learning curve instead.

Buzelis expressing confidence amid a slump is encouraging. The rookie's competitiveness and confidence have surely carried over to the pros. He's already thrown down 16 dunks and has shown a knack for offering unflappable quotes. Alas, the 20-year-old rookie has struggled in the nuanced aspects of the game and has failed to demonstrate much consistency. Below, we've provided a more in-depth analysis of Buzelis on offense and defense before handing out a grade.

Matas Buzelis' rookie report card halfway through the season

Offense

Throughout the season, Buzelis has averaged 4.8 points per game. He's shot 37.0 percent from the floor and 33.3 percent from three. The 6-foot-10 forward averages 4.6 field goal attempts, slightly more than half of which have come from beyond the arc.

The most valuable aspects of Buzelis' offense have been his spot-up shooting and aggressive finishes. Although he's shooting 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, his confidence is noticeable. The rookie possesses a sound form and a sturdy base, plus his motion is extremely consistent. It's already been mentioned, but if the 15 dunks provide any proof, Buzelis isn't afraid to rock the rim.

Buzelis has struggled with efficiency. He ranks near the bottom of the NBA in true shooting and effective field goal percentage. He shoots a low percentage from just about everywhere on the court. Despite good athleticism and a long frame, Buzelis shoots 47.1 percent from within three feet of the basket. Of 255 qualified players, Matas ranks second-to-last in field goal percentage on field goals 0-to-3 feet from the basket.

Beyond the paltry efficiency from close range, Buzelis shoots 30.0 percent from 3-to-10 feet, 25.0 percent from 10-to-16, and he's yet to record a field goal from 16 feet to the three-point line. Improving his efficiency will surely be a primary focus as the second half of the season marches on.

Finally, Buzelis has provided little as a playmaker. He's recorded 18 assists in over 460 minutes of action. The former Ignite star's turnover ratio is below zero, as he's notched three more turnovers than assists this season. There was hope that Buzelis' handle and passing would carry over from high school and the G-League, but we haven't seen much of the 20-year-old's ball-handling skills or creativity as a playmaker thus far.

Defense

The offense is certainly a work in progress for the first-year player. However, Buzelis' defense has been a different story. The Chicago forward averages 0.8 blocks and 0.3 steals per game. On a per-36-minute basis, Buzelis averages well over two swats per contest.

Buzelis is an adept individual and a smart team defender. The Bulls are nearly 7.0 points per 100 possessions better with the 20-year-old on the court. Chicago's opponent's effective field goal percentage decreases, and their turnover percentage increases with Buzelis on the floor.

Unlike most rookies, Buzelis is more than capable of defending one-on-one. His opponents shot 3.6 percent worse when he's the primary defender. Buzelis is even more stifling from the interior. He forces his opponents to shoot 13.2 percent worse from within six feet. Buzelis' stark interior presence coincides with his stellar block percentage of 5.4—on par with former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr.

Overall

In conclusion, Buzelis is coming into his own as a scorer. He's operated primarily as a catch-and-shoot three-point shooter, transition scorer, and opportunistic bucket-getter. Nearly three-fourths of Matas' field goals have been dunks or three-pointers this season. Time and more on-ball reps will tell if Buzelis is a capable three-level scorer.

Defense has been the rookie's calling card over the first half of the season. He's been a stellar deterrent, sticky on-ball defender, and reactive help defender. In an extended role, expect the 20-year-old to remain more than adequate on the less glamorous end of the floor.