Bulls Rookie Already Becoming Fan Favorite in Chicago

The Chicago Bulls were one of the winners of the 2024 NBA Draft as they landed hometown hero Matas Buzelis with the 11th overall pick. Once a five-star recruit and considered one of the best players in his class, Buzelis wasn't expected to fall out of the top ten. The Chicago native who went to school at Hinsdale is already on his way to becoming a fan favorite.

Buzelis appeared as a guest on the Bulls Talk Podcast and had the exact right attitude when it came to his goals and aspirations. According to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, Buzelis is more interested in team achievements rather than individual.

"Of course (I want to) get better as a player. But I think the main thing is I want to win championships. That’s me. This franchise has six (championships). I want to add seven, eight, nine. That’s what I do."

- Matas Buzelis

Understanding the history of the Bulls organization and what it means to be a part of that history, Buzelis has his eyes on the prize. For him, the prize is winning championships rather than any individual accolade.

That doesn't mean, however, that he isn't willing to take over games. In the same interview, he summarized his on-court demeanor and addressed his reputation as a trash talker.

"When I’m on the court, I want to kill you."

- Matas Buzelis

This will make Bulls fans happy but Buzelis has a long way to go to achieve his goals in Chicago. The team just decided on a rebuild this summer and it will take a while before they get back to contention. The Bulls haven't won a playoff series since 2015 and made the playoffs twice since then. Buzelis will further cement his status as a fan favorite if he is able to turn this bad fortune around.

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