Chicago Bulls X-Factor For The 2025-26 Season - Matas Buzelis

It’s been seventeen years since the Chicago Bulls had a young player generate a high level of excitement and anticipation. Not since Derrick Rose was selected with the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft has a hometown product been viewed as a franchise-building block for the Bulls. When Chicago selected Matas Buzelis with the 11th pick in the 2024 Draft, they did it with the intention that he would become a focal piece of their rebuilding project. 

Buzelis's rookie season was a tale of two halves. Early in the season, he was treated as a youngster on a veteran-led team, averaging just 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds across 80 total appearances. However, when the Bulls finally parted ways with Zach LaVine at the trade deadline, Buzelis's production surged dramatically. In his 31 starts following the trade, he averaged 13.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor. Clearly, all the rookie needed was an opportunity.

Over the past eight years, the Bulls have appeared to be at a crossroads, not quite good enough for a playoff run—having only qualified once with a handful of play-in appearances—but not bad enough to warrant a franchise-changing draft pick either.

As the team now seems committed to building with their young core, what makes Buzelis an X-factor for the upcoming season is his combination of size, skill, and versatility. A 6-foot-10 forward with guard-like skills, Buzelis possesses the traits that all teams seek in today’s game: a player who can score in multiple ways, defend various positions, and impact the box score in numerous ways.

With Josh Giddey and Coby White orchestrating the offense, distributing the ball, and combining for perimeter scoring and spacing, Buzelis can focus on what he does best: scoring in transition, spotting up from deep, and crashing the glass for second opportunities. 

As a Chicago native and former McDonald’s All-American, there are expectations, hope, and pressure on Buzelis to lift the Bulls into playoff contention. Entering his sophomore season with a full year of experience under his belt, Buzelis has all the tools necessary to take the leap from promising prospect to legitimate difference-maker.