Matas Buzelis was at a loss for words.
“I don’t really know … what did I accomplish this year?” the Bulls forward replied when asked by the media about his 2025-26 campaign.
When told he was one of six players in NBA history to have at least 150 made three-pointers and 100 blocks, yeah, he was taken back. Especially when names like Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Durant were in that company.
It’s amazing how the mood quickly changed for the 21-year-old when given new information.
“That’s crazy, yeah,” Buzelis said Friday night after the loss to Orlando. “It definitely means a lot to me for sure. It shows the work that I put in during the summer, during the season, the dedication, countless hours in the gym, and there’s just more. I want to accomplish more, and more for our team.”
He’ll likely have to wait on both fronts as a badly sprained ankle suffered against the Magic in the fourth has likely put his final start in Dallas on life support.
It’s still a season Buzelis should be proud of from an individual standpoint. He doubled his scoring average from his rookie season, going from 8.6 points per game to 16.3, he was stronger on the defensive end from a physicality standpoint with a lot of room to improve, and he became a legit top 10 rim protector in the league.
Is he a definitive high-ceiling All-Star yet? No, but he’s got the highest ceiling on this Bulls roster and it’s not even close.
And maybe more importantly, he’s got a work ethic.
“I know this summer I am going to work my butt off,” Buzelis insisted. “The whole summer, it’s going to be a hard summer for me. My body getting stronger and sharpening pretty much everything, but mainly the body part, the shot, the handle, just everything. The main thing will be (adding) the strength for me.
“I always want more for myself and the team. I definitely believe that I am (a foundation piece). I know for a fact I am only going to get better. If they want me here and they believe in me, I’m here. I believe I am definitely a big piece, and I am going to continue to work and put my head down and grind to show it.”
All the things the Bulls should be excited to hear. If only there were key figures in place to hear it.
Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley were both fired on Monday, and the future of Billy Donovan is still up in the air with the coach expected to meet with ownership next week and discuss the plans moving forward and if Donovan wants to even be a part of those plans.
Buzelis discussed both of those topics in what was likely his exit interview with the media.
“It was tough,” Buzelis said of the firings. “The organization is going to do what they feel is best, but it’s unfortunate because those guys drafted me, believed in me. They were like family to me. Those guys are going to be good. They’re great people. They work really hard.”
As for Donovan, Buzelis continued his high praise of the coach and the tough love in which Donovan coaches him.
“I want him to stay,” Buzelis said. “I’m riding with him forever.”
“I remember sitting down with Billy over the summer and talking about how I don’t know how to win. It’s a team sport and hard to win basketball games, but you can be a winning player out there and do what it takes for the team to win. I haven’t really been on a team where I have to pave the way with my teammates to lead them to victory in games. I told them I don’t know what to do and they taught me. I want to show them this season I am a winning player and I have those characteristics.”