Matas Buzelis, a highly touted prospect projected to be among the Top 5 picks in the 2024 NBA Draft, has opted for a distinctive path to his professional career.
Instead of the traditional college route, the 19-year-old small forward made a pivotal decision to join the G League Ignite, a choice that sets him on a unique trajectory towards NBA success.
In a recent interview with Sam Yip of HoopsHype, Buzelis elaborated on his choice to pursue the G League path to the NBA. He emphasized that his ultimate goal, like that of many aspiring basketball players, is to become a professional in the league.
For Buzelis, the G League presented an enticing proposition due to its alignment with NBA rules, offering an opportunity to compete under conditions that closely resemble the highest level of the game.
“I picked Ignite because at the end of the day you want to be a professional basketball player – that’s everyone’s goal,” he said. “So, why take a different route like college where you’re not playing NBA rules? You get to play NBA threes, shot clocks, everything. So it’s pretty much like a cheat code, I’d say.”
Last year Buzelis, born in Chicago, Illinois to Lithuanian immigrant parents, committed to representing the homeland of his parents internationally over the United States.
Buzelis could potentially become the highest draft pick for a Lithuanian player in NBA history. Currently, the record is held by Jonas Valanciunas, selected as the No. 5 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
