2 weeks Ago By Dan Coombs, NBA Analysis Network
A decade ago Jimmy Butler was making a name for himself on the Chicago Bulls. Jimmy Butler has become one of the most highly regarded players in the NBA during his career, thanks to a powerful combination of talent and hard work. Now on the Golden State Warriors after five years at the Miami Heat that included two NBA Finals runs , his career also took in stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Philadelphia 76ers.
But it was at the Chicago Bulls where Butler’s journey began, where he was drafted in 2011, and earned his first All-Star selection in 2015. Now he is being used as an inspiration for a current emerging Bulls star. Matas Buzelis can follow Jimmy Butler The Chicago Bulls have been vastly improved over the past few weeks, with Zach LaVine’s exit surprisingly freeing up a more offensively dynamic team.
Coby White and Josh Giddey have played a key role in the team’s turnaround, yet there is a player with even more exciting potential, Matas Buzelis. Buzelis was the Bulls’ first round draft pick in 2024 , and at just 20-years-old, he is picking up valuable experience. Speaking to the Chicago Bulls Network, former player Kendall Gill says he believes Buzelis can go away this summer and come back with a significant improvement.
He compared the situation to Jimmy Butler’s jump in Chicago, where he he went from averaging 13.1 points per game in 2013-14 to 20.0 ppg the following season, earning the first of his six NBA All-Star selections.
Gill said: “He can make a tremendous jump. All it takes is one summer. You can turn yourself from a regular player into an All American or All Pro in one summer, but you have to be totally dedicated.
“We go back to Jimmy Butler. When Jimmy Butler went down and told all of his friends to get rid of their cell phones, Jimmy locked himself in the gym, came back an All Star, I think, Matas Buzelis, can do the same thing, because he has the hunger to want to get better. “He wants to get better.
I can’t I can’t wait to see what he looks like next year.” Gill is already on record stating he believes Buzelis can become the Bulls’ own Cooper Flagg , controversially arguing he will prove to be a better player than the current Duke prospect. Matas Buzelis showing improvement Matas Buzelis has been showing great improvement in recent weeks as he continues to settle into life in the NBA.
During his first season Buzelis is averaging 8.1 points per game during 17.1 minutes per game.
Since the All-Star break his playing time has increased to 26.4 minutes per game, and the points have followed too, 12.8 ppg during this span.
Butler was drafted in 2011 and took until the 2014-15 season to make his jump, so time is on Buzelis’ side. But the youngster appears in a rush, and a surge in production during his second season could very easily happen. This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.
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