Limited roster options have forced Billy Donovan to play Matas Buzelis at power forward more than intended, but the Chicago Bulls coach has been trying to shift him back toward his natural spot on the wing.
According to Joe Cowley of Chicago Sun-Times, Buzelis again started at the four in Friday’s win at Cleveland, though Donovan mixed in minutes at small forward while leaning on bigger lineups.
Donovan explained that certain matchups at power forward can be physically demanding for a second-year player, especially against bigger interior scorers, and said he has never viewed Buzelis as a true big.
That thinking has led to increased experimentation with two-center looks, often pairing Zach Collins or Jalen Smith alongside Nikola Vucevic, with an even larger lineup surfacing Friday that included Patrick Williams.
Buzelis said he prefers playing small forward but remains flexible, noting that he’s comfortable adjusting to whatever role Donovan assigns and focused on making an impact regardless of position.
“Wherever he puts me I’m going to do my best and try to work it out. But I do feel comfortable when the two bigs come in. It’s not really a problem for me. Wherever he puts me I’m going to try and make something happen.”
Bigger lineups are paying off for the Bulls, plus more from Chicago: https://t.co/rJRw9yy22Q
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) December 21, 2025
