The Chicago Bulls selected Matas Buzelis with the No. 11 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft.
Buzelis, 6-10, 209, averaged 14.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 2.1 blocks and 0.9 steals in 32.0 minutes through 26 games (all starts) with the G League Ignite – while shooting .445 from the field. Buzelis scored 20-plus points on five occasions with the Ignite last season, alongside 20 double-digit scoring performances.
The Hinsdale, IL native also touted six double-doubles last season with the Ignite, including a season-high 24 points alongside 13 rebounds at the Windy City Bulls on March 1, 2024. This performance also featured a season-high four blocks, en route to 10 games on the season with three-plus blocks. Buzelis’ activity on the defensive end helped him finish the G League season ranked tied for fourth in blocks per game (2.1), while making him one of three G League players to average at least 14.0 points and 2.0 blocks per game.
Prior to his tenure with the Ignite, Buzelis was named the 2022-23 Gatorade Kansas Boys Basketball Player of the Year after averaging 15.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks at Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, KS) – one season after earning the same honor in the state of New Hampshire (2021-22) while with Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, NH). Buzelis ended his high school career rated as the nation’s No. 5 overall prospect in the 2023 ESPN Top 100 and was later named a 2022-23 McDonald’s High School All-American.
Chicago has selected at the No. 11 spot five times in team history, and tonight marks the first time the Bulls have drafted in this position since 1988 (Will Perdue – Vanderbilt).
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