Fans React to Chicago Bulls Selecting Matas Buzelis

The 2024 NBA draft is off and running, and the Chicago Bulls have officially made their first-round pick by selecting G-League Ignite wing Matas Buzelis. Buzelis , the 5th-best prospect in the NBA draft, is a Chicago kid, so the homecoming is a neat story. At 6'10 and able to jump out of his shoes, Buzelis can play a multitude of positions and will likely get a chance to contribute right away in Chicago. Even so, he does need to grow into his frame and shore up his outside shooting and ball handling. At 19, though, he'll have time.

With that said, let's dive into fan reactions to the Bulls selecting Matas Buzelis .

Hinsdale's Own

It is always cool when a hometown kid gets picked up by his local team. We saw it with Derrick Rose and Ayo Dosunmu, and now we see it with Buzelis. The high school he briefly attended, Hinsdale Central, sent him a shout-out, which is fun to see.

High Expectations Off the Bat

I mean, when an expected top-5 pick falls in your team's lap at 11, it is fair to be pumped about it. Buzelis is bursting at the seams with upside, so we will have to see if he reaches legend status. He's got a lot of learning and growing to do.

Calls for a Rebuild

It is certainly fair to want to see the brand-new draft pick play a lot of minutes right away. It is also certainly fair to want the middling Bulls to tear it down and rebuild with Buzelis and players like Josh Giddey . We'll see if that actually occurs, though.

Not Feeling the Fit?

Speaking of a rebuild centered around Buzelis and Giddey, some fans aren't feeling the fit between the two. Buzelis's 22.2% shooting from three is certainly not an inspiring number for adding a weapon alongside Giddey's playmaking. Scouts seem to think Buzelis's shooting will come around, though, so we will see.

Oof

Buzelis probably had the best reaction of the draft. He was brought to tears when Chicago selected him. Here's a different take on why he was crying.

Speaking of Crying

Fans are having a lot of fun at Buzelis's brother's expense as cameras caught the younger Buzelis crying once his brother got picked. He's just happy for his brother! Let him be!

Overall, fans seem to be thrilled with the move. That's fair: many thought he was a lock for the Detroit Pistons at 5, and then he just kept falling. There are questions and haters—as there always are—but Bulls Nation seems to be along for the Buzelis ride.

Related: Chicago Bulls Select Matas Buzelis with 11th Pick in 2024 NBA Draft

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