{"id":517006,"date":"2026-01-04T23:40:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T23:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/517006\/"},"modified":"2026-01-04T23:40:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-04T23:40:17","slug":"can-chicago-bulls-forward-take-reins-amid-injuries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/517006\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Chicago Bulls forward take reins amid injuries?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s often only a split second that separates Matas Buzelis from pure brilliance.<\/p>\n

The moment occurs well before he leaves the ground. Or whips around his defender in a bold pirouette. Or scoops the ball behind his back and low to the ground like a yo-yo on a string.<\/p>\n

For Buzelis, the make-or-break millisecond before any highlight happens behind the 3-point arc, far from the basket, when the second-year forward discards hesitancy and makes a decision: Let\u2019s go for it.<\/p>\n

In Friday\u2019s win over the Orlando Magic<\/a>, that moment of truth was visible on the court.<\/p>\n

It was midway through the second quarter. Jalen Smith tipped a defensive rebound just beyond the 3-point arc, where Buzelis could gather and go. For a moment, he ran at almost a casual pace, head up, perusing the options as Jalen Suggs retreated to assume the defensive responsibility on the two-on-one break.<\/p>\n

As Buzelis reached the Bulls\u2019 3-point line, his decision snapped into focus.<\/p>\n

No more dribbles. Pick up the ball parallel to the free-throw line. Plant his feet just inside the paint. Elevate. Pull the ball back like a weapon, ready for the downward blow. Accept everything that comes after \u2014 the blow to the face as Suggs flailed at the ball, the roar from the United Center as the ball crushed through the rim, the feigned disbelief of his teammates on the bench who have seen this all too many times before.<\/p>\n

“That might be the dunk of the year.”<\/p>\n

Matas Buzelis makes his case for slam of the season! https:\/\/t.co\/bODetJUvLO<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/5OpMnFAMjh<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Buzelis said, shaking his head with a grin after the win. \u201cI just did it.\u201d<\/p>\n

That game represented a template for Buzelis, who logged 21 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. He crashed the boards, continued to pepper in 3-point shots despite a slow start in the first half and operated as the crucial first blow in a one-two punch in the pick-and-roll with center Nikola Vu\u010devi\u0107.<\/p>\n

The dunk was just a little extra gravy on top.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s hard to define the most \u201ccomplete\u201d game of any player\u2019s career. But Buzelis\u2019 performance Friday easily earns that designation \u2014 mostly because, for the first time in his brief tenure with the team, the Bulls needed Buzelis.<\/p>\n

Photos: Chicago Bulls 121, Orlando Magic 114<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

That was somewhat true at the start of this season. With most of last year\u2019s roster returning, the front office and coaching staff were open about how Buzelis\u2019 growth would define how much this team could grow and compete in 2025-26.<\/p>\n

It wasn\u2019t meant to put pressure on Buzelis \u2014 it\u2019s a simple fact. If Buzelis has a breakout season, the Bulls could rise above their current potential. If he stays quiet, it\u2019s likely more of the same.<\/p>\n

But with Josh Giddey and Coby White sidelined<\/a> by injuries, the Bulls are looking to Buzelis for inspiration.<\/p>\n

Over the last three games without both starting guards, Buzelis averaged 19 points, 7.7 rebounds and four assists. He shot 24% from 3-point range in that span \u2014 a significant dip from his 33.9% season average<\/a> \u2014 as the Bulls went 2-1 without their leading sources of points and assists.<\/p>\n

\"BullsBulls forward Matas Buzelis celebrates a 121-114 win over the Magic on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, at the United Center. (John J. Kim\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

This is a step up from Buzelis\u2019 typical output. But is it enough?<\/p>\n

\u201cConsistency\u201d is one of Buzelis\u2019 most-used words this season. He seeks routine and ritual in every aspect of his daily life as he works to build the habits of a professional athlete. He\u2019s quick to point out his struggles to stamp statement performances in back-to-back games, a sticking point as he nears the halfway point of his second season.<\/p>\n

Buzelis doesn\u2019t want to force things. That might seem incongruous with the lofty goals he eagerly shared in training camp. He wants to win Most Improved Player and end up on one of the All-Defensive teams this season. But he also doesn\u2019t want to stray from the growth process the Bulls coaching staff set out for him.<\/p>\n

This is a rarity \u2014 and one the Bulls should cherish. This is a 21-year-old with eye-popping skills, who could dunk better than any of his teammates (well, Zach LaVine might have argued that one) from the moment he set foot in the NBA. But Buzelis still is trying to do things the right way. He doesn\u2019t want to show off. He wants to be great.<\/p>\n

Photos: Charlotte Hornets 112, Chicago Bulls 99<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

At times, this intentionality has been vexing<\/a>. Fans gripe about the dynamic between Buzelis and coach Billy Donovan, who still isn\u2019t afraid to pull the forward back to the bench after coverage mistakes or all-too-frequent fouls. And Buzelis can be hesitant, taking only five shots in a Dec. 27 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s true that Buzelis needs to learn to take the reins. His diligence and selflessness will be assets throughout his career. His coachability is a strength. But the Bulls need to be able to set him loose on an opponent at will \u2014 and he still hasn\u2019t shown he has the capacity to take over a game for more than a quarter at a time.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s understandable. Buzelis is young. Such offensive dominance requires a keen understanding of the game in addition to physical gifts and playmaking. The only way to teach Buzelis how to command these moments is to allow him to play through them. While injuries have devastated the Bulls this season, they also have offered Buzelis more minutes as the primary playmaker.<\/p>\n

\"BullsBulls forward Matas Buzelis stands on the court in the second half against the Hornets on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no rush. The Bulls are hovering around .500, sitting on the middle rung of the Eastern Conference that they can\u2019t surpass without the full force of their roster. The front office has no serious expectations for this team to compete deep into the playoffs.<\/p>\n

But for this season to be any sort of long-term success for the Bulls, Buzelis must keep building his identity as a No. 1 option on the court \u2014 one split-second decision at a time.<\/p>\n

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