Now my urge to write about Lithuanian basketball is incredibly strong, but I understand it might not resonate as much with my international audience. However, with Matas Buzelis and the hype he generated when he was picked by his hometown Chicago Bulls, I think I’m in the clear here.
Also, after he signed with Reebok (Sports Illustrated, 2024) just recently, I think he becomes even more interesting to talk about and analyze if he’s the next big thing for Chicago Bulls and, of course, for the Lithuanian NT, who’s been looking for it’s new talent for quite some time now.
Where’s the Hype with Matas Buzelis?
Matas Buzelis was generating hype as a top prospect and was named 2022-23 Gatorade Kansas Boys Basketball Player of the Year, he averaged 15.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and shot 53.7% from the field. With stints at Brewster Academy and accolades like MVP at the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp, his resume was already loaded before entering G-League’s Ignite team. He had decent stats in G-League, but as they were not stable, he did hurt his chances of being picked high in the 2024 NBA draft.
Originally projected as a top-5 pick but ultimately going No. 11 to the Chicago Bulls, he still holds immense potential—especially with the Lithuanian connection to Bulls’ executive vice president of basketball operations and Lithuanian basketball legend Artūras Karnišovas.
Beyond the stats, Matas Buzelis isn’t afraid to pickup challenges, which was evident when he callied out No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher. He also has shown extreme confidence and swag, but at the same time, he seems down-to-earth, and very goal-oriented. No doubt, this had a major influence on Reebok, who signed a deal with him.
In Lithuania, Matas Buzelis is the face of future hopes. The country hasn’t seen any medals in years despite having great talent like Euroleague players Ignas Brazdeikis (former NBA), Marius Grigonis, Tadas Sedekerskis, NBA-prospect point guard Rokas Jokūbaitis, NBA player Jonas Valančiūnas, and NBA All-Star Domantas Sabonis. However, the team lacks an all-around scorer and talent like Linas Kleiza once was, and Matas Buzelis is seen as someone who can fill that role. With other top prospects and potential future NBA first-round picks, such as Kasparas Jakučionis (University of Illinois), Motiejus Krivas (Arizona), and Nojus Indrušaitis (Iowa), Lithuania believes its basketball future is bright, with Matas Buzelis expected to be the face of it.
How Unique is the Reebok Deal?
In short—not very unique. The days when players earned deals based on their results are over decades ago; now, deals are often awarded based on potential. Each year, top lottery picks like Victor Wembanyama, Paolo Banchero, and Zion Williamson, along with other rookies who have strong social media followings or unique playing styles, attract significant interest from major brands.
The one unique aspect of Matas’s deal is the brand he signed with—Reebok. Reebok is working to reestablish its presence, especially after appointing legends Shaq and Allen Iverson to top positions, and is actively seeking intriguing players to represent their brand.
If you look at what Reebok states as their values on Comparably—things like “They define their own code,” “They risk everything,” and “Game Changers are no stranger to Reebok”—you realize that Matas Buzelis embodies the Reebok spirit perfectly. He’s not just a talented athlete; he’s vocal about being unafraid to be who he is on the court, with a style and creativity that’s hard to ignore.
For me personally, as someone who was a HUGE Allen Iverson fan growing up and who really represented those values, it’s exciting to see a Lithuanian picked for that. BUT there’s a long road ahead for him to prove it.
Hypegenic Meter!
To figure out if Matas Buzelis is really worth the hype, let’s kick things off with the Hypegenic Meter—our rating system rooted in scholarly research that’s designed to predict just how hypegenic a player is, or could be.
Note: The “Hypegenic Meter” evaluation is done with trained AI model.
Matas Buzelis
| Category | Trait | Score (0–10) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Results | Conscientiousness | 8 | Known for his work ethic and commitment to skill improvement, showing promising development as a prospect. |
| Resilience | 7 | Demonstrated adaptability in various settings, showing resilience, though his consistency needs growth. | |
| Mental Toughness | 7 | Showed poise and adaptability; however, his career is still in early stages, with mental tests yet to come. | |
| Confidence | 9 | Exceptionally confident, highlighted by his willingness to challenge high-profile peers, including the top pick in his class. | |
| Highlight-Reel | 8 | Known for standout plays, particularly in scoring and playmaking, with room to expand his highlight repertoire as he matures. | |
| Accolades | Icon Status | 3 | Currently far from icon status; however, joining the Bulls as a hometown pick and potential Lithuanian NT star gives him room to grow. |
| Stability | 5 | Struggled with consistency in the G-League, contributing to an uneven season; stability will be crucial moving forward. | |
| Awards | 6 | Notable achievements as a high school prospect, including two Gatorade Player of the Year awards, but fell from projected top-5 to 11th pick. | |
| Public Image | Extraversion | 7 | Engages fans and media well but keeps a relatively low-key public profile focused on his game. |
| Personality | 9 | Demonstrates confidence and a unique “swag,” as seen in his public challenge to the top pick, adding a compelling edge to his image. | |
| Integrity | 8 | Maintains a positive, humble public image, though his career is still young; known for his focus on self-improvement. | |
| Impression Management | 7 | Currently focuses on a basketball-centered public image with controlled media exposure. | |
| Love-It/Hate-It Character | 5 | Generally liked but not polarizing enough to create intense media-driven opinions at this stage. | |
| Relationships & Cultural Relevance | Rivalries | 6 | Displayed a competitive edge with his challenge to Zaccharie Risacher, hinting at potential rivalries as he develops. |
| Celebrity Relationships | 2 | Limited, with the most notable being training sessions with Jonas Valančiūnas, a fellow Lithuanian NBA player. | |
| Brand Collaborations | 6 | Recently signed with Reebok, showing brand potential that could grow with his career trajectory. | |
| Cross-Industry Impact | 2 | No significant impact in other industries; his brand remains centered in basketball. | |
| Historic Team Affiliation | 7 | Drafted by the Chicago Bulls, a historic franchise, adding significance to his role as a Chicago native with potential hometown impact. | |
| Timing | Timing | 8 | Entering pro basketball during a period of rising interest in young talent, which positions him well for growth if he performs. |
Hypegenic Meter Score: Good
Total Points: 130/190
Final Score (Percentage): 68%
Summary: Matas Buzelis demonstrates notable hypegenic potential as a prospect, particularly given his confidence, playmaking skill, and connection with the Chicago Bulls as a hometown player.
While he’s already shown promise and has started building his brand, his early career limits his scores in categories like accolades, stability, and cultural influence.
As he gains experience and potentially solidifies his NBA role, Matas Buzelis could see his hypegenic score grow, especially if he develops rivalries and plays a significant role on the Lithuanian National Team, potentially building toward icon status.
Conclusion
Matas Buzelis is undoubtedly a very promising prospect for both Chicago and Lithuania. Chicago is considered one of the largest Lithuanian cities outside of Lithuania, with the biggest Lithuanian population abroad, so I’m loving this connection as well.
So, being a Chicago-Lithuanian, drafted by Chicago Bulls, having Karnišovas on the sidelines, deep basketball traditions in the family, charismatic personality—it’s an amazing mix to work with.
If he lives up to the hype and performs on the court, he has all the other traits to become a hypegenic player who eventually turns into a star. He’s unique in every way, and as a Lithuanian, I just hope he’ll be willing to don the Lithuanian national team jersey.
And he should—his father, Aidas Buzelis, was part of the Lithuanian national team staff, both his grandfathers played basketball in Lithuania, and one of them, Petras Buzelis, was a longtime captain of the Lithuanian powerhouse club Žalgiris Kaunas.
Let’s hope for the best. 🤞🏻
CITATION
Bakanauskas, P. (2024, October 28). Matas Buzelis: Lithuania’s New Big Basketball Hope (?). Play of Values. https://playofvalues.com/matas-buzelis-hope/
IN-TEXT CITATION: (Bakanauskas, 2024)
List of References
- Benson, P. (2024, October 21). Chicago bulls rookie signs Sneaker Deal with Reebok. Kicks On SI. https://www.si.com/fannation/sneakers/news/chicago-bulls-rookie-signs-sneaker-deal-with-reebok
- Reebok Mission, Vision & values | comparably. (n.d.). https://www.comparably.com/companies/reebok/mission
Is Matas going to be the face of the Bulls and Lithuanian NT in the upcoming years?
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