We know it, Matas Buzelis does not lack self-confidence. For example, the Bulls rookie considers himself better than Zaccharie Risacher and he really wanted to challenge him one-on-one.
However, upon arrival, he was not in the Top 3 of the last Draft, nor even in the Top 5. To tell the truth, Matas Buzelis did not expect to land in his hometown, Chicago, at the Draft after coming out of the Top 10. The Lithuanian will therefore have things to prove this season, and in particular to the NBA executives who snubbed him.
“I know what kind of player I am, and nobody in the draft gives more than me,” he says. “Right now, it doesn't matter. It's 0-0. It doesn't matter what position we're picked in, we have to go out there and face them. I'm just going to work harder, and prove everyone wrong.”
Rather than going to the NCAA or Australia, Matas Buzelis had chosen to train with Team Ignite, in the G-League. It was perhaps his clumsiness from afar (27.3% at 3-pointers) that worried the NBA franchises.
“It was a big step going from high school to the G-League,”he judges. ” I think the main thing was fitness and the physical side of the game, and just getting stronger too. Getting in the weight room, building up my legs so I have endurance during games. I think that was the main thing for me. But I really don't worry about it, honestly. I work hard. I know I can shoot.”
Imposing oneself through defense
While his outside shooting was mediocre, the Lithuanian can boast of having been at his best in defense. With an average of 2.1 blocks in his 26 games played this season, he has shown good things.
“I already had instincts in defense”assures Matas Buzelis. “But it was mostly just watching video and seeing what position I had to be in and how far away I had to be from the paint to block a shot, and how different guys finished in the paint. It’s just instinct and size. Of course, you have to be athletic. But it’s just watching video and seeing how to time it.”
It is also through defense that the winger/power forward plans to weigh in and create a place for himself in the Bulls' rotation. “I know that in my rookie year I'm not going to have systems designed for me, so I have to defend, bring energy and get open shots,” he concludes.
