From Illinois swimming champion to NBA star and Lithuanian national icon
In short: Before he was a high-stakes NBA draft pick, Matas Buzelis was a standout breaststroke swimmer in Illinois. Now, the Chicago-born talent is rewriting basketball history, becoming the first Lithuanian player to compete in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest and a rising scoring force for the Chicago Bulls.
Born in Chicago on October 13, 2004, Matas Buzelis carries a deep basketball lineage. Both of his parents played professionally in Lithuania before settling in the United States. His paternal grandfather, Petras Buzelis, was a captain for Žalgiris Kaunas, winning six Lithuanian League titles, while his maternal grandfather, Arvydas Jankauskas, was also a professional player and coach.
Buzelis's path to the NBA was unconventional. After a diverse childhood that included gymnastics and elite-level swimming—where he held top results for under-10 and under-12 breaststroke swimmers in Illinois—he transitioned into high school basketball. After transferring from Hinsdale Central to Brewster Academy due to pandemic-related disruptions, he earned the 2022 New Hampshire Gatorade Player of the Year title.
Rather than following the traditional collegiate route through schools like Kentucky or North Carolina, Buzelis chose the NBA G League Ignite in May 2023. This decision paved the way for his selection as the 11th overall pick by the Chicago Bulls in the 2024 NBA draft. Despite being projected as a top 5 pick, he fell to his hometown Bulls during the draft process.
His impact in the NBA has been immediate and historic. In his second season, he became the third Bulls player under age 21 to score 40 points in a game, joining Michael Jordan and Elton Brand. He has also become a cornerstone for the Bulls' offense, stepping into a leading scorer role following significant roster trades involving players like Nikola Vučević and Coby White.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Matas Buzelis
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