Matas Buzelis is a unique physical specimen. At 6-foot-8 and 210 pounds, he has the size to attack defenders at the rim as well as the ball-handling and athleticism to operate farther from the basket.
The 21-year-old Chicago Bull was one of just four players last season to tally at least 100 three-pointers and at least 100 blocks, joining Victor Wembanyama, Myles Turner and Jay Huff. He also threw down several highlight-reel dunks, showcasing his high-flying ability on a nightly basis.
But there's an area of Buzelis' game that he didn't truly get to show during his first two seasons in the NBA: the mid-range. The former first-round pick believes that'll change this year under new head coach Tiago Splitter.
"I think you're gonna see a lot more versatility — more offensive game, mid-range," Buzelis said on Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady's 'Cousins' podcast. "I wasn't allowed to shoot the mid-range my first two years."
The Bulls drafted Buzelis with the No. 11 overall pick in 2024, and in two seasons under Billy Donovan, the Chicago native flashed stretch-four potential. However, Buzelis' shot attempts were limited to inside the paint and behind the three-point line.
Despite shooting 46.2% on long mid-range shots (79th percentile for his position), Buzelis only attempted 0.2 such shots per game (13 total) last season. A large part of that was because of the analytics-driven approach that restricted where on the court Buzelis was "allowed" to shoot.
Mar 12, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images According to Buzelis, two-time reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (54.8% on 3.9 long mid-range attempts) and future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant (48.4% on 4.3 long mid-range attempts) are the only two players who are efficient enough to be "allowed" to shoot mid-range jumpers, but that's not a philosophy he agrees with. He believes that shooting more from the mid-range will unlock another part of his game.
"It's something that you can get to honor the big man," Buzelis said. "For him to step up, maybe you attack. That all matters to me. Even shooting one a game for me matters so much, because I can get to the rim, I can go dunk the ball. If they step up a little bit, I'm blowing past them. I just have to shoot one. Even if I make or miss it, psychologically, it's a setup."
Buzelis added that he was always "itching" to shoot a mid-range jump shot when he was coming off a pick-and-roll, but defenders knew he was going to drive. Now, Buzelis' comments insinuate that he will be much more of a shooting threat from 10 to 22 feet under Splitter.
Last season — his second in the NBA — Buzelis nearly doubled his scoring average from his rookie year. The local product averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 46.3% from the floor and 34.9% from deep. He started 77 games and projects to lead the next era of Chicago Bulls basketball.
Between Buzelis, Josh Giddey, No. 4 overall pick Caleb Wilson, No. 15 overall pick Dailyn Swain, and 2025 19-year-old wing Noa Essengue, the Bulls have a young core that will be looking to turn heads next season and turn the franchise around.
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