Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has shared more than his fair share of blame for the franchise’s lackluster half-decade. Many would argue he’s been dealt a subpar hand, while others would contest that he hasn’t developed talent as well as needed to win. He recently made a roster shift following Zach LaVine’s departure, which he believes could stabilize the organization for years. What has Donovan found, and is his experiment working?
Matas Buzelis And Patrick Williams
Bulls fans are letting out a collective eye-roll at this combination of players because of the inexperience and the fit. For starters, few successful defensive-minded forwards average ten points per game and a handful of rebounds, shoot 35% from three-point land and prefer to come off the bench. Next is a rookie who’s primarily a high-flying, rim-running forward with flashes of elite athleticism but cannot play sustainable defense without fouling. It doesn’t precisely embody a perfect match and hasn’t translated for the Bulls. They have a net negative rating when sharing the floor, both experience shooting woes often, and neither has found a consistent role between the lines.
"This pairing of Matas Buzelis and Patrick Williams could be a pairing for the future."
In the latest episode of The Fastbreak, @KCJHoop dives into Billy Donovan considering new rotations 👀 pic.twitter.com/8iaYLFwBmX
— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) February 19, 2025
Pairing these two youngsters together would be great in theory; both are young, under contract for the foreseeable future, and lengthy players who can help establish the new culture in Chicago. Reality shows that Williams has struggled for five years to prove himself at the professional level and has not sustained success for more than a month of his career and that Buzelis has shown promise with increased usage but still prefers to play away from the ball, be hidden defensively, and thrives mainly in the fast break.
Billy Donovan Finally Playing His Rookie
For all the ups and downs that Buzelis’s rookie campaign has brought, the last month has seen NBA starting potential. After Zach LaVine was shipped away and the Bulls admitted to turning the keys to the youngest assets on the team, the explosive rookie has taken full advantage. In February, he’s posting 27.1 minutes per game, over double his average. He’s putting up a 14-3-2 stat line nightly in the month while shooting over 51% from the field and 34% from deep. On February 4th, he made NBA history while posting his career high, going 10-of-10 from the field for 24 points.
Still thinking about these two buckets from Matas Buzelis last night. Brings the ball up the floor and uses a crazy gather step to get to the rim. Then, a freakin’ step back over KD!
A great representation of the very high potential he holds offensively. pic.twitter.com/l6sOHLu62H
— Elias Schuster (@Schuster_Elias) February 23, 2025
While it’s probably too late to capture the Rookie of the Year honor, Buzelis is actively making a name for himself and proving to be a cornerstone player who could help turn the tides of basketball in Chicago. Will he and Patrick Williams represent the star tandem that Donovan envisions?
