In a league known for its awe-inspiring athleticism and nightly displays of talent, Matas Buzelis might just be lighting up a whole new constellation in the NBA firmament. If you haven’t heard his name yet, brace yourself—because Buzelis has not only stormed the court, he’s rocketed straight into the hearts of fans, bewildered opponents, and perhaps most intriguingly, caught the sharp eyes of collectors in the trade market.

Standing at an imposing 6 feet 10 inches, this rookie phenom turned heads when he exploded for a career-high 31 points in a monumental victory over the Lakers this past Saturday. Dragging the Bulls along on his meteoric rise, Buzelis wrote his name in the annals of unforgettable games with daring finesse and electrifying plays. He didn’t simply score—he performed. His ballet of basketball skill included a particularly jaw-dropping moment where he zipped past the seemingly invincible Luka Doncic, crescendoing with a soaring one-handed dunk that had every jaw in the stadium dropping like mic drops at a rap battle.

Buzelis, picked 11th in last year’s NBA Draft, initially entered professional basketball amidst a cloud of questions—sometimes seen as a gamble shrouded in untapped potential. Now, those whispers of doubt have been replaced with cheers and exclamations of admiration. His every game since the All-Star break has been a chance to showcase the magic that lay dormant, mined for gold by the Bulls who have slotted him into their revamped, more aggressive game plan. More minutes on court—a bountiful 25.8 per game—are translating into an average of 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and a whisker under a block each outing. The Bulls are surging with pace and power, and Buzelis is riding the wave like a bona fide Hall of Famer.

While Buzelis dazzles on the hardwood, the once-still air of the collectors’ market is alive with sound, fury, and flashing cash registers. Card Ladder, a well-respected analytics firm in card scouting, tallied up a phenomenal 2,731 card sales related to Buzelis in just the first 25 days of March. That figure doesn’t even whisper, it shouts—a substantial spike from the period preceding the Panini’s 2024-25 Prizm NBA release, where his biggest sale was a mere $700 affair for his Prizm Draft Picks Black Prizm Auto 1/1 card. But since then? Simply holding one of his cards has become akin to holding a mini-Fort Knox. Two notable sales have pierced the $2,000 ceiling—his 2024-25 Panini Prizm Green Shimmer Rookie /5 fetching a stunning $2,150, followed by the Panini Prizm Snakeskin Auto /15 clocking in at $2,194.69. What a time to be jubilant and invested!

In the land of rookie stardom, Buzelis is now the hot topic in watercooler conversations and blog feeds. Whereas top draft choice Zacharie Risacher notched five four-figure sales, Alexandre Sarr hit one, and Rookie of the Year favorite Stephon Castle marked sixteen—the 20-year-old Matas Buzelis posted a jaw-dropping eighteen, symbolically taking his fast break to the scoreboard of collectible market conversation.

Framing this spotlight with how he stacks against his peers, what’s compelling is Buzelis didn’t wag in with a parade or summer campfire tales of rookie marvels. Yet, here he stands—larger than life, enigmatic, and effervescent. His game speaks fluently across the international lingua franca of basketball brilliance, with the marketplace hustling to catch this runaway train.

With the Chicago Bulls steering into fresh waters, waving goodbye to the seasoned DeRozan-LaVine era, Buzelis is swiftly becoming a vital part of the new core. He benefits from the confluence of Coby White’s nimble movements and Josh Giddey’s clairvoyant court vision, crafting a role in the squad that crowns him king of the dunks and gradually imbues him with the grandeur that fans and collectors gamble their dreams on.

In a class that commenced with whispers and trepidations, Matas Buzelis might just become its inadvertent superstar. The few who dared to dream on his long-shot, now reap the benefit of his towering growth, skillful adaptability, and agile grace. His elegance on the court has become as prized as an ancient artifact in the eyes of collectors—and there is no sign of slowing down. The investment in his abilities, measured in moments of awe and in wads of cash, predicts a future that is just as bright as the young talent himself. If this trajectory holds steady, it’s not just Buzelis’ stats that are rising skyward, but also his status as an iconic rookie making waves and leaving behind a glittering wake in this vast sea called the NBA.

Matas Buzelis Rookie Cards