The Chicago Bulls have undergone a serious facelift this season-seven trades will do that to a roster-but one familiar face still holding things down in the Windy City is Matas Buzelis. And while the team’s record may be stuck in the mud, Buzelis continues to show flashes of something special.
On Monday, the Bulls headed to Brooklyn to face the Nets, still searching for answers during a rough stretch. Chicago’s dropped four straight and sits at 24-29, a team in transition trying to find its footing after a flurry of moves reshaped the roster.
But amid the chaos, Buzelis has remained one of the few constants-and he’s doing more than just surviving. He’s evolving.
Now in his second year, Buzelis has taken on a bigger role, and his athleticism has been hard to miss. He’s made a habit of turning heads with his dunks-highlight-reel stuff that’s made the rounds on social media all season.
But despite the buzz, he’s opted out of this weekend’s Slam Dunk Contest in Los Angeles. Instead, he’ll suit up for the NBA Rising Stars game, a showcase for the league’s top rookies and sophomores.
It’s a fitting stage for a player who’s quietly developing into a core piece of Chicago’s future.
Matas Buzelis jumped OVER Colin Sexton for the block 🤯
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 10, 2026
pic.twitter.com/bOIpl8pGQA
Of course, this season hasn’t been without its challenges. Buzelis is still adjusting to a dramatically different locker room.
The Bulls moved on from several key players, including Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic, Dalen Terry, Jevon Carter, and Kevin Huerter. That’s a lot of turnover, and for a young player like Buzelis, it means recalibrating chemistry and learning to lead in real time.
The new-look Bulls now feature a cast of fresh faces: Collin Sexton, who arrived from Charlotte in the deal that sent White to the Hornets, along with Anfernee Simons, Jaden Ivey, Nick Richards, Rob Dillingham, Guerschon Yabusele, and Leonard Miller. It’s a group loaded with potential, but also one still finding its rhythm.
Through it all, Buzelis has been steady. He’s averaging 15.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game-numbers that don’t just look good on paper, but speak to his growing confidence and comfort on the court.
He’s not just a dunker or a viral clip waiting to happen. He’s becoming a reliable contributor, and with the Bulls in transition, that’s exactly what they need.
This season may not be about wins just yet. But for Chicago, it’s about building something sustainable. And if Buzelis keeps trending upward, he might just be one of the pillars they build around.