The Chicago Bulls season ended without a playoff berth, but Matas Buzelis used his end-of-season media availability on Monday, April 13 to reflect on growth, adversity and expectations moving forward.
“Yeah, it’s of course the season didn’t go as I’d like it or anybody on the team would like it to go,” Buzelis said. “But you know, one thing I learned through this whole thing is the business of basketball and that sometimes you can’t control the outcome.”
The sophomore forward emphasized internal accountability despite organizational changes. “But I can control me waking up every day with a smile on my face, ready to work. The preparation, the mentality, you know, being bought into the team. That’s what I can control.”
Chicago finished 31-51, outside the Eastern Conference play-in picture, during a season that included trades and front office turnover. Buzelis acknowledged the instability directly. “It’s very unfortunate, of course,” he said. “But I know like this summer I’m going to work my butt off the whole summer. It’s going to be a hard summer for me.”
When asked about specific improvements, the 21-year-old pointed to physical development. “My body. Getting stronger and sharpening pretty much everything,” he said. “But the main thing is going to be the strength for me.”
Buzelis averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 77 games, while also becoming one of six players in league history to record at least 150 made three-pointers and 100 blocks in a season. “That’s crazy. Yeah, that definitely means a lot to me for sure,” he said. “It shows the work I put in over the summer, during the season, the dedication.”
Still, the forward did not frame the season as a finished product. “I always want more, you know, for myself and for the team,” he said. “But I don’t really know what did I accomplish this season. I’m kind of blanking out.”
Buzelis repeatedly returned to the concept of winning habits. “I wanted to bring a winning player to the team. That’s what I wanted to bring,” he said. “You can do what it takes for the team to win.”
He also described his role in practical terms. “I try to be a spark plug. I try to do what the team needs for us to win,” Buzelis said. “That might not be scoring some games. That might be blocking shots. That might be steals.”
The Lithuanian forward expressed strong support for head coach Billy Donovan amid organizational uncertainty. “I hope you don’t leave. Like, I don’t want… I’m riding with you forever,” Buzelis said. “You’re a cornerstone for my career.”
On his long-term outlook, Buzelis was direct. “Yeah, I definitely believe that I am,” he said when asked about being a foundational piece. “I know for a fact I’m only going to get better.”
His mindset also extends to physical play. “The mentality is to have the mentality to not get pushed around,” Buzelis said. “You could always show fight.”
As the Bulls head into the offseason, Buzelis made his priorities clear. “I’m just going to continue to work and put my head down and grind to show it,” he said.
