It's been a tough stretch for the Chicago Bulls, who find themselves in the throes of a 10-game losing streak-their longest skid in seven years. Amid this challenging period, whispers of tanking for a better NBA Draft Lottery position have surfaced, but Matas Buzelis is having none of it.
Buzelis, with a competitive fire burning bright, dismissed the tanking talk outright. “I don’t really like that word,” he said, addressing the speculation.
“People might think that, but I’m going out and trying to win every night. All these guys are, too.”
This losing streak is clearly weighing on Buzelis. In their latest matchup, the Bulls fell to the Charlotte Hornets, 131-99, despite Buzelis lighting up the scoreboard with a season-high 32 points.
His frustration was palpable. “I’m sorry, I just … I wanna win games, and that’s what everything is all about,” he expressed when discussing his development amid the Bulls' struggles.
The Bulls are navigating a period of adjustment, integrating a revamped roster after trading away key players like Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic, and Kevin Huerter. But Buzelis isn't using that as an excuse.
“When you trade half the team, and you bring in new guys, it’s tough,” he acknowledged. “It’s no excuse, though.
We gotta come in and figure it out. And I’m going to say it again: I know we’re capable of doing that.”
As the Bulls prepare to face the Portland Trail Blazers to close out the month, they stand at 24-35. The journey ahead won't be easy, but with Buzelis' determination leading the charge, the Bulls are focused on turning things around.