The Chicago Bulls' 2025-26 season officially began last night with a 118-117 victory in Cleveland. With most veteran assets shipped off over the previous year, this group will be full of question marks, looking for a new identity. The franchise inked point guard Josh Giddey to an extension this summer, added Isaac Okoro via trade, and drafted Noa Essengue in the 2025 NBA draft. Using last season's finish as evidence for the upcoming year, it's safe to assume Coby White, Matas Buzelis, and Giddey will lead the charge as Chicago seeks their first postseason berth since the 2021-22 campaign. Here are the most important things to keep an eye on after their first four quarters of basketball.
Matas Buzelis Needs A Sophomore Leap
20-year-old Matas Buzelis, drafted 11th overall in 2024, will represent one of the most crucial elements of Chicago's success this season. He was elevated into the starting lineup for the last 31 games of his rookie season and showed flashes of stardom. This summer, he's worked on adding size to his frame and sharpening his three-point shooting. On a roster full of young, unproven talents, his potential seems to be the highest in the early stages of his career. Last night, his leadership and scoring prowess were evident.
Matas Buzelis tonight:
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 8, 2025
19 Points
8 Rebounds
7/11 FGM
18 Minutes pic.twitter.com/L8P7QmIclQ
There is a drastic difference between preseason action and regular-season play, but with only 18 minutes of his sophomore year to evaluate, the explosive young wing looks extremely promising. He led the team in shot attempts, points, offensive rebounds, and blocks.
Buzelis Doing All The Right Things
All factors must be considered when attempting to gauge how well any rookie or young player acclimates to the prestigious stage of the NBA. When asked his goals for this season, his answer was to take home the league's Most Improved Player award, an ambitious yet admirable one. He noted earlier this week that he reached out to Chicago legend Derrick Rose for advice on his second season and handling the pressure and expectations from a stellar rookie campaign. This is another fan-friendly answer from the youngster as he continues to be easy to root for and wishfully cheer on to become the next franchise player. Only a little over a year into his professional career, Buzelis is proving humble, hungry, and relentless in pursuit of improvement.
Matas Buzelis says he texted Derrick Rose to ask how he approached the pressure of his second season 🙌 pic.twitter.com/YjGnn0LCqK
— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) October 8, 2025
Another pleasing answer from the 20-year-old was his response to the second-year adjustments and how he's approached those over the summer. He mentioned speaking to head coach Billy Donovan about what he can improve upon, specifically for the benefit of this team. This included adding weight to his body while maintaining his explosivity and speed. Three-point shooting has also been a highlight of his workouts, as his outside numbers were wildly inconsistent last year.
Matas Buzelis opened up to On Air Daily News about what he’s learned from his transition between his rookie year to now his second year in the league.
— Joshua M. Hicks (@joshmhicksmedia) October 1, 2025
“It’s being in the weight room but also maintaining my speed and agility.” pic.twitter.com/0BL9PnpzGC
While all summer has featured good answers and an impressive first preseason showing, the regular season will carry the only valid value.
Can Matas Buzelis transform into the leader and All-Star caliber player the Bulls need him to be, or will the franchise continue to seek their next cornerstone piece?
