Buzelis was selected as a replacement player for the 2025 Castrol Rising Stars competition that begins Friday. The Bulls rookie is already competing in the 2025 NBA Dunk Contest,

Matas Buzelis is developing nicely in his rookie year with the Chicago Bulls. Ben Pfeifer breaks down how he excels and where he can grow.

With only 29 games left in the regular season, Buzelis' performance the rest of the way is a top priority for the organization. The Bulls also have some tough decisions to make this summer, so Josh Giddey and Coby White have something to prove.

Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis has his sights set high in the Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend, and the rookie will be looking to hoist the Dr. J Trophy on Saturday. Buzelis will be the fifth Bulls player to participate in the annual event and the first since Tyrus Thomas in 2007.

As the Bulls face an uphill battle with a rebuild, Buzelis provided a glimmer of hope at the United Center on Tuesday night.

Growing up in a family of professional basketball players, Buzelis was taught early that there were no shortcuts — lessons that helped prepare him for his rookie season with the Bulls and coach Billy Donovan.

Buzelis has had some emphatic dunks this year, but Mac McClung will not be going down without a fight. He doesn't even play in the NBA, but his hops and his ability to dunk the basketball are unreal. If someone that isn't in the league gets invited and continues to win the contest, you know they are impressive.

Rookie Matas Buzelis scored a career-best 24 points on 10-for-10 shooting and Josh Giddey added 24 points to lift the host Chicago Bulls to a 133-124 win against the Miami Heat on Tuesday.