In the bustling hive that is the NBA, emerging talent is constantly under the microscope, sifted through evaluations like beans through a sieve at a gourmet coffee shop. Enter Matas Buzelis, the Chicago Bulls rookie who’s currently percolating in the spotlight with a blend of prowess and poise that’s as invigorating as a freshly brewed espresso. The 6’10” baller has clearly been perfecting his brew over the offseason, culminating in a tantalizing display against the Lakers, which sent waves through both the hardwood and the hobbyist community.

Just last Saturday, Buzelis transformed from a name in the roster to a name you’ll hear echoing in collector circles. He clinched a career-high 31 points, his performance accentuated by a mesmerizing moment where he blitzed past none other than Luka Doncic, launching into a one-handed slam dunk that had the crowds—virtual and live—buzzing like bees on a warm summer day. Drafted as the 11th overall pick, the journey wasn’t always so smooth to start. Questions fluttered around him like pesky flies. But with his recent demonstrations of skill, Buzelis is adeptly shooing those questions away, holding the potential of a prowling tiger finding its stride.

Since the All-Star break, Buzelis’ court time elevated to 25.8 minutes per game, coupled with a respectable average of 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and flirting with a block per game. He moves like a fish in water in the Bulls’ dynamic, up-tempo game plan, reaping the benefits of this enhanced speed strategy. As the winds shifted around Chicago, bringing with them a strategic evolution away from the DeRozan-LaVine era, a new breeze carries Buzelis into a crucial role in the Bulls’ revitalized lineup. With gifted teammates like Coby White and Josh Giddey orchestrating plays, Buzelis is finding ample opportunity to dunk, where he now proudly paces as the team’s dunk king, growing more self-assured with every match.

In the realm of collectibles, Buzelis seems to have cracked the proverbial safe. A hobby market driven as much by optimism as it is by statistics, his recent on-court prowess has collectors buzzing. According to Card Ladder data, March’s first 25 days witnessed a staggering 2,731 Buzelis card sales, surging past expectations like a racecar on a final lap. Interestingly, 18 of these sales waltzed beyond the four-figure mark, an uncharted territory for his cards pre-Panini’s 2024-25 Prizm NBA release. His previous top sale was a humble affair next to the current figures—a $700 Black Prizm Auto 1/1 catching a January auctioneer’s gavel in agreement. Nonetheless, the arrival of Prizm NBA has seen two of his rookie cards glide past the $2,000 barrier: the 2024-25 Panini Prizm Green Shimmer Rookie /5 sold for $2,150, and the 2024-25 Panini Prizm Snakeskin Auto /15 ended with a tidy $2,194.69.

Taking a bird’s eye view of his rookie cohort, Buzelis is side-stepping into the limelight alongside names that were expected to shine from the get-go. Top pick Zacharie Risacher had five four-figure card sales in March alone. Alexandre Sarr managed one. Stephon Castle—who many forecast as a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year—had a commendable 16 sales. Buzelis? Eighteen, with more undoubtedly simmering. What makes his ascent intriguing is the lack of spotlight he garnered pre-season. His tale is unfurling in real-time, his actions orchestrating the narrative, while the market adeptly follows suit.

The unfolding basketball narrative reveals the raw talent that is Matas Buzelis, a young athlete exhibiting the rare combination of height, skill, and the elasticity of a rubber band. Chicago fans see a new core forming, one that’s less DeRozan and LaVine and more about discovering new horizons with Buzelis leading the charge. His arsenal includes maneuverability akin to a Swiss Army knife, and if his growth follows its current trajectory, the buzz surrounding his cards could soon resemble that of a swarm around a lucrative hive.

Only 20 years of age, Buzelis stands poised at the precipice of what could be a sterling NBA career, piecing together performances enticing both hooper fans and memorabilia collectors alike. His rawness, usually a caveat, is transforming into an asset—the untapped well brimming with potential and promise. So as he continues to polish his craft on the NBA stage, the dual audiences of fans and collectors not only take note but also take action, investing their hopes and dollars into what is shaping up to be a rewarding find from the draft.

Matas Buzelis Rookie Cards