<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-matas-buzelis-instant-reaction-josh-giddey-signing');   ga('set', 'title', 'Matas Buzelis’ instant reaction to Josh Giddey signing');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Matas-Buzelis-Josh-Giddey.jpg"><figcaption>© David Banks-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Matas Buzelis’ instant reaction to Josh Giddey signing</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-09T13:42:58-07:00">September 9th, 1:42pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-09T13:42:58-07:00">September 9th, 1:42pm</time><address><a>Scotty White</a>Scotty White serves as ClutchPoints' Chicago Bulls and Michigan Football reporter, in addition to covering NCAA Football and Basketball as a Senior Editor. Scotty is a graduate of the University of Michigan and has been in the sports journalism industry since 2020.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-josh-giddey-bonkers-100-million-contract-free-agency">Chicago Bulls and Josh Giddey finally reached an agreement</a> on a contract extension Tuesday as the guard signed a new four-year, $120 million deal. This deal has been in the works for the entire offseason, and Giddey ended up getting a nice pay day. Reports initially stated that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-rumors-josh-giddey-contract-chicago">Giddey was hoping to receive $30 million annually</a>, and then it was noted that he might have to settle for $20M. Instead, Giddey got $25M, and Matas Buzelis is happy for his teammate.</p><p>Matas Buzelis took to Instagram shortly after the news broke as he wanted to celebrate Josh Giddey and his new deal. Buzelis <a href="https://x.com/Will_Gottlieb/status/1965496575389827379" rel="noopener">reacted to the news</a> with this photo:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Giddey posts confirming the deal on IG</p><p>Matas also chimes in with his thoughts 😂 <a href="https://t.co/ajn4sZMq7K">pic.twitter.com/ajn4sZMq7K</a></p><p>— Will Gottlieb (@Will_Gottlieb) <a href="https://twitter.com/Will_Gottlieb/status/1965496575389827379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Buzelis and Giddey are the future of the Bulls. Buzelis was taken in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft, and he really came into his own during his rookie season last year. After starting on the bench, Buzelis ended up earning a spot in the starting lineup for the final stretch of the season.</p><p>Giddey has also only been in Chicago for one season. He was traded to the Bulls by the Oklahoma City Thunder prior to last season, and he emerged as one of the best players on the team after the All-Star break. Giddey’s play down the stretch is what earned him this big contract extension.</p><p>For a good chunk of the season, Giddey didn’t do anything special for the Bulls. He only averaged 12.2 points per game before the All-Star break. However, he averaged over 21 PPG after the All-Star break. Not only was Giddey performing well, but his play elevated the entire team. The Bulls played their best basketball down the stretch, and while it didn’t translate to postseason success, it was still good to see a glimpse of competitive basketball.</p><p>It is a bit of a risk for the Bulls to be shelling out this kind of money after just a couple of months of strong play, but it is clear that they believe in Josh Giddey. If he can consistently play like he did down the stretch with guys like Matas Buzelis continuing to develop, this Chicago team could be fun down the road.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Matas Buzelis’ instant reaction to Josh Giddey signing

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-why-nikola-vucevic-made-eurobasket-request-to-matas-buzelis');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Nikola Vucevic made EuroBasket request to Matas Buzelis');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Why-Nikola-Vucevic-made-EuroBasket-request-to-Matas-Buzelis.jpg"><figcaption>ClutchPoints</figcaption></figure><h1>Why Nikola Vucevic made EuroBasket request to Matas Buzelis</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-28T13:31:56-07:00">August 28th, 1:31pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-28T13:43:13-07:00">August 28th, 1:43pm</time><address><a>Julian Ojeda</a>Julian Ojeda is an Orlando-based sports journalist with 3 years of professional writing under his belt, specializing in both NBA and NFL coverage. A devoted Orlando Magic fan, he deftly balances fervent fandom with insightful reporting, possessing a keen eye for compelling narratives.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic has been a fixture in international basketball for more than a decade. Ahead of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-franz-wagners-magic-teammate-helps-upset-spain">EuroBasket 2025</a>, he revealed that he attempted to persuade rookie teammate Matas Buzelis to join Lithuania for the tournament.</p><p>Speaking to Lukas Katilius of BasketNews, Vucevic <a href="https://basketnews.com/news-230182-nba-all-star-reveals-he-tried-to-convince-bulls-rising-star-to-play-in-eurobasket.html" rel="noopener">explained that his request</a> came from a belief that Buzelis would benefit from the unique experience of FIBA competition.</p><p>“I was trying to convince him to play,” Vucevic said. “I thought it would have been really good for him to get some FIBA basketball experience, to play in EuroBasket, and to practice against all the other players from Lithuania every day. It would have been great for him.”</p><p>Vucevic highlighted the differences between international and NBA play as an important developmental step for younger players.</p><p>“The NBA and FIBA are very different games, and I think it is especially good for young players to experience both and learn from them,” he said.</p><h2><b>Nikola Vucevic sees EuroBasket as missed growth opportunity for Bulls’ Matas Buzelis</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Matas-Buzelis.jpg"><figcaption>Matt Marton-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>For Vucevic, the chance to compete in a medal hunt would have added significant value for Buzelis in his early career.</p><p>“I think it would have helped him a lot, and it would also have been valuable just to play in big games,” Vucevic said. “Obviously, Lithuania is going to try to compete for a medal — that is their goal — so for him, it would have been huge. But he decided not to play this summer. Hopefully, he will play in the future.”</p><p>“I think he has a very bright future in the NBA and, hopefully, also with the Lithuanian national team. For whatever reason, though, he decided not to play this summer,” Vucevic added.</p><p>The veteran noted that Buzelis, who was born in Chicago, approaches the game with a mentality shaped more by his American background.</p><p>“Yeah, he is probably a little more American,” Vucevic said. “But he was born and grew up there, so that is normal. He is a good guy — a very good guy.”</p><h2><b>Buzelis opts out, Vucevic shines despite Germany overpowering Montenegro</b></h2><p>The 20-year-old forward completed his rookie season with the Bulls averaging 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and one assist per game. He shot 45.4% from the field and 36.1% from three while averaging 18.9 minutes across 80 contests. Despite encouragement from his veteran teammate, Buzelis chose not to participate in EuroBasket this summer. Lithuania still opened with a 94-80 win over Great Britain on Wednesday without his presence.</p><p>While Buzelis sat out, Vucevic carried Montenegro in their Group A opener against Germany. The 34-year-old center produced a strong performance with 23 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists in 31 minutes. He shot 10-for-13 from the field and 2-for-3 from deep, finishing with an efficiency rating of 30.</p><p>Despite his individual production, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/orlando-magic/eurobasket-news-how-franz-wagner-dominated-in-germany-30-point-opening-win">Montenegro fell 106-76 to Germany, led by Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner</a> and Sacramento Kings guard Dennis Schroder. The loss highlighted the challenge ahead for Vucevic’s national team as they aim to rebound in group play.</p><p>For Chicago, Vucevic’s guidance reflects his role as a mentor for the franchise’s young core, with Buzelis expected to play an expanded role in his sophomore season. His push for Buzelis to embrace international competition underscores his belief in the forward’s long-term potential.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Nikola Vucevic made EuroBasket request to Matas Buzelis

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-matas-buzelis-posts-cryptic-josh-giddey-message-amid-free-agency-saga');   ga('set', 'title', 'Bulls’ Matas Buzelis posts cryptic Josh Giddey message amid free agency saga');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Matas-Buzelis-Josh-Giddey.jpg"><figcaption>© David Banks-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Bulls’ Matas Buzelis posts cryptic Josh Giddey message amid free agency saga</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-08-14T07:58:53-07:00">August 14th, 7:58am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-08-14T07:58:53-07:00">August 14th, 7:58am</time><address><a>Scotty White</a>Scotty White is a graduate of the University of Michigan and has been in the sports journalism industry since 2020. He has covered athletics at the University of Michigan and is now serving as an Associate Editor, Chicago Bulls beat writer, and Michigan football reporter at ClutchPoints.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Josh Giddey still hasn’t reached a deal with the Chicago Bulls this offseason, but an <a href="https://x.com/BN_Bulls/status/1955808442339483947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1955808442339483947%7Ctwgr%5Eca2e7471465b08d7cd81724773a9ea4d4513bb35%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpippenainteasy.com%2Fcryptic-matas-buzelis-post-hints-bulls-finally-have-josh-giddey-resolution" rel="noopener">interesting post</a> from Matas Buzelis on Wednesday has people thinking that a deal might be done soon. After ending the season on a surge, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/siegels-scoop-josh-giddey-jonathan-kuminga-rfa-market-unchanged">Giddey positioned himself to earn a nice new contract</a> with the Bulls this offseason. There has reportedly been some disagreement on the number that Giddey wants, but the expectation is for the two parties to eventually meet in the middle. It might be happening soon:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ummmm is Matas Buzelis tipping us off that the Josh Giddey deal is almost signed?</p><p>He posted this to his second Instagram account … </p><p>(📸 via notmfourteen | IG) <a href="https://t.co/bEvX7eyzg3">pic.twitter.com/bEvX7eyzg3</a></p><p>— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) <a href="https://twitter.com/BN_Bulls/status/1955808442339483947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Josh Giddey came to the Bulls last offseason in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Chicago sent Alex Caruso to OKC, and Giddey went to the Windy City. Giddey wasn’t anything special for much of the season, but he was a different player post All-Star break.</p><p>Giddey averaged 12.2 points per game before the All-Star break, but after the All-Star break, he averaged 21.2. His three-point shooting was phenomenal down the stretch, and that is a big reason why he was scoring a lot more. Giddey also played with a new sense of confidence and was great at getting to the rim and creating shots for himself. All in all, he played some terrific basketball down the stretch and really gave the Bulls a lot to think about.</p><p>Coming into the offseason, Josh Giddey was hoping to sign a new contract with the Bulls that pays him $30 million a year. The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-rumors-the-80-million-contract-chicago-offered-josh-giddey-start-free-agency">Bulls are reportedly looking to pay him</a> closer to the $20 million mark, and Giddey is expected to settle. He played at an elite level down the stretch and showed that he is worthy of a big contract, but at the same time, it wasn’t a huge sample size. The Bulls don’t want to put all of their eggs in one basket for a couple of months of good basketball.</p><p>At this point, nothing has been signed, but that post from Matas Buzelis has a lot of people wondering. It would be an odd thing to post if something isn’t happening.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Bulls’ Matas Buzelis posts cryptic Josh Giddey message amid free agency saga

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/chicago-bulls/exclusive-bulls-matas-buzelis-leap-nba-summer-league');   ga('set', 'title', 'Exclusive: Bulls’ Matas Buzelis ‘ready’ for 2nd-year leap after explosive Summer League');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Exclusive-Matas-Buzelis-fuels-Bulls-second-year-leap-in-NBA-Summer-League.jpg"></figure><h1>Exclusive: Bulls’ Matas Buzelis ‘ready’ for 2nd-year leap after explosive Summer League</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-15T07:12:59-07:00">July 15th, 7:12am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-15T07:12:59-07:00">July 15th, 7:12am</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>LAS VEGAS — When the Chicago Bulls were on the clock with the 11th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, there was one player their fans were begging the organization to take: Matas Buzelis, the hometown kid. Fortunately for Bulls fans, the front office loved Buzelis’ potential, and he was selected to become the next face of the franchise.</p><p>Although he may not have stuffed the stat sheets like Stephon Castle, Jaylen Wells, or Zaccharie Risacher (the three Rookie of the Year finalists), Buzelis was a bright spot in Chicago and a beacon on hope for the future. The fact of the matter is that the Bulls have been rebuilding for years and seeking one player who can provide them with a clear identity.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-insider-new-face-franchise">Buzelis proved to be that talent</a> in his rookie season, and he is already building momentum for a huge second season in the NBA.</p><p>“When we first got Matas, he was still figuring out what type of player he could be entering the next level,” one Bulls team source told ClutchPoints at NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. “As he found his comfort zone, everyone started to see the offensive weapon he could become. By the end of the year, it’s not crazy to say he was our best offensive player.</p><p>“This year, it’s all about consistency and understanding what it means to lead an offense. He’s proved that he can do so here at Summer League.”</p><p>In the Bulls’ first Summer League game on Friday, Buzelis recorded 17 points on 4-of-14 shooting and five rebounds. His four turnovers stuck out, yet his struggles didn’t impact the young forward’s mindset entering his second game in Las Vegas.</p><p>After sitting out the team’s second game on Saturday, a decision made by the front office, Buzelis came back in full force on Monday afternoon in Cox Pavilion on the campus of UNLV. The 20-year-old scored a <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1944917869721993590" rel="noopener">game-high 28 points</a> on 8-of-14 shooting, including two made shots from the perimeter. He also finished this game with five rebounds, like he did in his other Summer League performance.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Matas Buzelis (28 PTS) put on a SHOW in the <a href="https://twitter.com/chicagobulls?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chicagobulls</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA2KSummerLeague?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBA2KSummerLeague</a> win 🤩 <a href="https://t.co/1S5xcqhDoY">pic.twitter.com/1S5xcqhDoY</a></p><p>— NBA TV (@NBATV) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBATV/status/1944917869721993590?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Buzelis went 17-of-20 from the free-throw line in his two games with the Bulls’ Summer League squad, proving that he is ready to become an <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-matas-buzelis-summer-league-slam-dunk">aggressive player who hunts his shots</a> entering Year 2 in the NBA. More importantly, Buzelis recognizes that he has gone from a young rookie looking to find his footing to becoming a player many are taking notice of.</p><p>When asked about the difference between being in Las Vegas last year before his rookie season and now, Buzelis sent a clear message.</p><p>“This year, guys are actually trying to kill me every time I step on the court,” Buzelis told ClutchPoints on Monday. “I’m ready for the challenge. It’s not about me, though. I am just happy we won this game.”</p><p>The Bulls came out victorious on Monday, defeating the Indiana Pacers 114-105 in large part because of Buzelis’ offensive contributions.</p><p>Now, the 2025-26 season begins for the young Bulls forward, as he confirmed that his time at his second Summer League is over. Buzelis will be shut down and won’t play in the team’s remaining games this offseason.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-matas-buzelis-confident-best-player-ever-mindset">Confidence oozes from Buzelis</a>, and he understands the assignment ahead. It’s not an easy task to have the spotlight on you in Chicago, especially since the idea of a <i>franchise player</i> in the minds of Bulls fans is Michael Jordan and Derrick Rose.</p><p>While he still has plenty of room to grow and will continue to forge his identity at the Bulls’ training camp before the start of the new season, Buzelis isn’t afraid of the moment. The Bulls have not won a title since Jordan led them to their sixth championship in 1998, but this is what Buzelis envisions.</p><p>Despite being so young, Buzelis has high expectations for himself and his organization.</p><p>“I was born and raised in Chicago. This city means a lot to me,” Buzelis said after Monday’s game. “Our fans are amazing. We need to bring them a championship. Plain and simple.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Exclusive: Bulls’ Matas Buzelis ‘ready’ for 2nd-year leap after explosive Summer League

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/chicago-bulls/bulls-news-matas-buzelis-summer-league-slam-dunk');   ga('set', 'title', 'Matas Buzelis dazzles fans with Summer League slam dunk');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/IMG_0052.jpeg"></figure><h1>Matas Buzelis dazzles fans with Summer League slam dunk</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-14T16:37:04-07:00">July 14th, 4:37pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-14T16:37:04-07:00">July 14th, 4:37pm</time><address><a>David Yapkowitz</a>David Yapkowitz is an NBA Associate Editor at ClutchPoints. He is a credentialed reporter based in Los Angeles who covers the NBA/WNBA, NCAA/NCAAW and boys/girls high school basketball.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Chicago Bulls</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>During the first week of NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, one of the top human highlight reels has been Chicago Bulls’ second-year wing Matas Buzelis and his dazzling dunks. Over the weekend, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/bulls-news-matas-buzelis-slam-nba-summer-league">Matas Buzelis threw down a smooth slam</a> after shooting out on the break during one of the Bulls’ early summer league games.</p><p>On Monday, Buzelis was at it again <a href="https://x.com/ClutchPoints/status/1944885125025825212" rel="noopener">with another big slam</a> dunk that wowed the fans in attendance. This time, Buzelis cut to the basket, grabbed a pass from Bulls rookie big man Lachlan Olbrich, and soared to the basket without any dribbles for the dunk.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">MATAS BUZELIS THROWS IT DOWN WITH AUTHORITY 😤</p><p> <a href="https://t.co/kQFhEYzYI0">pic.twitter.com/kQFhEYzYI0</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1944885125025825212?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>NBA fans aren’t new to Buzelis’ high flying exploits. As a rookie, he selected to participate in the NBA’s Dunk Contest over All-Star Weekend, but he failed to advance to the final round. Buzelis was selected due to his penchant for dunking that had been on display during the regular season.</p><p>As the Bulls continue to be a team that’s stuck in ‘no-man’s land,’ essentially not good enough to be a serious playoff threat but not bad enough to tank, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/editorials/bulls-news-matas-buzelis-looking-to-take-leap-after-slow-start-to-rookie-season">Buzelis represents a bright spot</a> for the organization. For the time being, the Bulls seem like a team locked in to the play-in range, but Buzelis’ development will be something to watch for fans.</p><p>This past season he appeared in 80 games as a rookie, including 31 starts, at a little over 18 minutes per game. He averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists with splits of 45.4 percent shooting from the field, 36.1 percent shooting from the three-point line and 81.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line. He was also selected to the All-Rookie Second Team and finished seventh in the Rookie of the Year voting.</p><p>Buzelis was among the final group of players from the G League Ignite before the NBA decided to do away with the program. He was selected by the Bulls with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
8.6	3.5	1.0	0.9	0.4

2024-25 SEASON STATS
PTS	REB	AST	BLK	STL
8.6	3.5	1.0	0.9	0.4

Matas Buzelis

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Exclusive: Bulls’ Matas Buzelis ‘ready’ for 2nd-year leap after explosive Summer League

Matas Buzelis dazzles fans with Summer League slam dunk

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