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Kevin Durant Sends Message About Chicago Bulls Young Star

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Andy Restrepo | Last updated Feb 24, 2025 4:34 PM ET

The Chicago Bulls are having a not-so-great 2024-25 season, currently holding a 22-35 record and sitting in No. 10 place in the Eastern Conference.

Despite their struggles, one bright spot has been the performance of rookie Matas Buzelis.

The 20-year-old forward, who was the No. 11 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has shown promise and potential throughout his rookie campaign.

Buzelis has been averaging 6.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in just 15.0 minutes per game.

However, his recent performances have been particularly impressive.

In the Bulls' latest game against the Phoenix Suns, Buzelis scored 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, and added three rebounds.

Despite the Bulls' 121-117 loss to the Suns, Buzelis' performance caught the attention of Suns superstar Kevin Durant.

Durant, who had a firsthand look at Buzelis during the game, praised the young forward's skills and potential.

"I like Matas. I liked him when he was with G League Ignite. He's long, athletic, can shoot it. He's definitely going to have some bumps and bruises as he gets through his first few years in the league trying to figure things out," Durant said.

"But the more experience, the more reps he gets as a starter the better he'll become. Billy's giving him more opportunities. Just play. I hear (Donovan) on the sidelines, "Attack. Shoot the ball. Be aggressive." His teammates encourage him. Playing will make you better player."

Kevin Durant on Matas Buzelis: "I like Matas. I liked him when he was with G League Ignite. He's long, athletic, can shoot it. He's definitely going to have some bumps and bruises as he gets through his first few years in the league trying to figure things out. (cont.)
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) February 23, 2025

Durant's endorsement of Buzelis is significant, as it highlights the rookie's potential to become a key player for the Bulls in the future.

Buzelis has been given more opportunities by Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, starting in each of the last six games and averaging 13.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and 1.1 assists on 39.1% shooting from three-point range over that span, according to The Rookie Wire.

With the support and encouragement of his teammates and coaching staff, Buzelis has the potential to become a standout player in the NBA.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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