Matas Arvidas Buzelis was born on October 13,2004 and is a Lithuanian-American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association.
21 Facts About Matas Buzelis
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Matas Buzelis was drafted 11th overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2024 NBA draft.
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Matas Buzelis initially attended Hinsdale Central High School and played on their sophomore team as a freshman.
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Matas Buzelis transferred to Brewster Academy, a boarding school in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, midway through the start of the first semester of his sophomore year after Hinsdale Central's basketball season was postponed due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Matas Buzelis was selected to play for Team World in the 2022 Nike Hoops Summit.
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Matas Buzelis transferred to Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas before the start of his senior year.
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Matas Buzelis was selected to play in the 2023 McDonald's All-American Boys Game.
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Matas Buzelis took part in the Basketball Without Borders camp during the 2023 NBA All-Star weekend and was named the camp's MVP.
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Matas Buzelis was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2023 class, according to major recruiting services.
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Matas Buzelis ultimately chose to play professionally for NBA G League Ignite.
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Matas Buzelis had considered playing college basketball for Kentucky, North Carolina, Florida State and Wake Forest.
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On May 31,2023, Matas Buzelis officially signed with the NBA G League Ignite.
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Matas Buzelis was selected with the eleventh overall pick by the Chicago Bulls during the 2024 NBA draft.
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Matas Buzelis reportedly worked his way as a projected top 5 in the pre-draft process as teams were interested in his size and feel for the game putting him as a top 5 pick commonly to the Detroit Pistons who decided to go with Ignite teammate Ron Holland.
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Matas Buzelis signed a rookie-scale contract with the Bulls on July 2,2024.
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On January 20,2025, Matas Buzelis committed to the NBA Slam Dunk Contest during the 2025 All-Star weekend, becoming the first Lithuanian player to do so.
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Matas Buzelis became the first Chicago Bulls player to participate in the contest since Tyrus Thomas in 2007.
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On July 21,2022, Matas Buzelis committed to the Lithuania men's national basketball team for international competitions.
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Matas Buzelis's maternal grandfather, Arvydas Jankauskas, is a former basketball player and coach, while his paternal grandfather, Petras Matas Buzelis, is a former basketball player who debuted in Zalgiris Kaunas at 19 years old, later became Zalgiris Kaunas captain and won six Lithuanian League titles and three USSR Premier Basketball League bronze medals.
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One of Matas Buzelis grandmothers, Elena Buzeliene, is an all-time great Lithuanian handball player who won two European Champions Cups.
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Matas Buzelis father, Aidas Matas Buzelis, is a former basketball player who played for multiple Lithuanian Basketball League clubs and worked as a physiotherapist of the Lithuania men's national basketball team.