Earlier this afternoon, the NBA released the annual list of rookies awarded All-Rookie nominations following the 2024-25 season. The final standings are based on a panel of 100 media members who vote on the most deserving first-year players to represent the ten best performers in their class. First-place votes are worth two points, while second-place votes are worth one. Chicago's 11th overall pick in 2024, Matas Buzelis, becomes the first Bull to be named to an All-Rookie team since Ayo Dosunmu in 2022. He earned 15 first-place votes and 67 second-place tallies, bringing his point total to 97, good for the seventh most points overall and a spot on the NBA's All-Rookie Second Team. His outburst primarily came post-All-Star break, when Zach LaVine was traded away and a few injuries plagued the lineup, allowing Buzelis to showcase his talents more freely in the starting lineup with significantly more minutes and opportunities. Did Chicago finally land a cornerstone piece in the draft, and what is his outlook moving forward?
A Tale Of Two Seasons
Matas Buzelis was a completely different player after February of last season. Before the break, he averaged under 15 minutes per outing and was mainly in the second unit. He posted 6.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. After returning from All-Star weekend, he played 26.9 minutes per night in the final 27 games of the season. During that span, he boasted 13.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists nightly, and improved his shooting percentage to 46.7%. The last portion of the year earned his spot on the All-Rookie Second Team and proved that he's a long-term staple in Chicago's starting five.
The 2024-25 Kia NBA All-Rookie Second Team:
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 20, 2025
▪️ Matas Buzelis of @chicagobulls
▪️ Bub Carrington of @WashWizards
▪️ Donovan Clingan of @trailblazers
▪️ Yves Missi of @PelicansNBA
▪️ Kel'el Ware of @MiamiHEAT pic.twitter.com/4HiIXHeROG
Buzelis had his eyes set on the bigger prize of the NBA's Rookie of the Year award, but given the tardiness of when he was truly unleashed, this nomination is still an impressive feat. Next up? Chasing his first All-Star appearance and leading one of the youngest rosters in the NBA to a new identity.
Chicago Found Their Cornerstone
While Buzelis had plenty of rookie blunders and bumps in the road, his flashes of elite scoring ability and freakish athleticism showed the most promise from a Chicago Bulls rookie in nearly a decade. The Bulls have fully committed to moving forward with the rebuild around their 20-year-old wing and will proceed to construct a roster that adheres to his skillset and abilities. Inking Josh Giddey's extension and retaining Coby White beyond next year will significantly add to the franchise's young core. They also hold the 12th pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA Draft, and there's early speculation that they may try to move upwards to find a game-changing addition to the roster.
Matas Buzelis rookie season pic.twitter.com/R7QOvsr5pN
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) April 30, 2025
What is Matas Buzelis's ceiling in the NBA, and can Chicago develop their next All-Star caliber player out of him? The sophomore leap will be one to watch as he builds on the latter portion of his explosive rookie campaign.
