Offered by Nationwide Insurance coverage Agent Jeff Vukovich
Matas Buzelis did not sugarcoat it: Regardless of understanding for his hometown Chicago Bulls, the Lithuanian product did not anticipate to be obtainable on the eleventh decide in Wednesday’s NBA Draft.
“They got here to observe me in Los Angeles work out privately,” Buzelis mentioned. “However no, I did not anticipate really to be right here. Now that I am right here, I am very excited.”
Buzelis, 19, grew up in Chicago and performed one season for Hinsdale Central, the place his youthful brother at the moment performs. He later transferred to prep faculties and performed final season for G League Ignite. He cannot consider he is becoming a member of the Bulls.
“Tremendous grateful,” he mentioned through Zoom. “I am very grateful. I labored actually exhausting to get right here. I simply cannot thank the Bulls group sufficient.
“This implies the world. Me being born and raised there, it simply makes it so significantly better. It means every part to me. I am unable to even clarify it.”
Buzelis cited Derrick Rose, who he mentioned “was a big effect on Chicago basketball,” as his favourite Bull rising up. And Buzelis believes his G League background will put together him for subsequent season.
“Play towards the perfect gamers on the earth and getting skilled by the perfect coaches on the earth and having some vets who’ve been on NBA rosters and know what it is wish to undergo the route we went on,” Buzelis mentioned. “So I feel I gained a bonus being there.”
In a predraft interview with NBC Sports activities Chicago, Buzelis cited J.R. Smith as somebody whose type he admires. That is not a reputation you hear typically, which is why he was requested about it in a query that additionally requested him to listing his strengths and weaknesses.
“I have to work on getting stronger. That is going to come back ultimately. I have to work on taking pictures,” he mentioned. “What interprets is obstructing pictures, pushing the ball in transition, getting proper into the offense. Being a great teammate.
“The J.R. Smith factor is simply me being a basketball head. I like basketball. So I have a look at quite a lot of completely different gamers.”
The 6-foot-9-inch wing is a first-generation American, along with his mother and father each taking part in professionally in Lithuania. That is the identical nation that produced Bulls govt vice chairman Artūras Karnišovas.
“I do not know him that a lot. My Dad is aware of him from being with the Lithuania nationwide group,” Buzelis mentioned. “I had some chats with (Karnišovas).”
Buzelis mentioned he’ll work to contribute as quickly as attainable.
“Regardless of the coach tells me to do, I’ll do to the perfect of my talents,” he mentioned. “I am able to work and provides it my all.”
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