Ignite Update: Matas Buzelis Finding His Groove in G League
Entering this draft cycle, Matas Buzelis clearly had a skillset and trajectory that was worthy of being considered for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. With that in mind, the former five-star recruit out of Sunrise Christian Academy dealt with an ankle injury early in the G League season, then struggled a bit upon making his debut.
As the 2023-24 campaign goes on, Buzelis is really starting to get more comfortable and once again is making a real case for why he might be the best player in this upcoming draft class.
The 6-foot-10 prospect differentiates himself with the versatility he brings on both ends of the floor. Although he’s the size of a forward, Buzelis really does have guard skills. At the NBA level, he has the tools to be an ideal switchable perimeter-oriented wing. His draft combine measurements will be interesting, as there is some questions around how tall he really is. Regardless, it’s clear he has a unique skillset for a player of his size and age.
Buzelis possesses reliable dribble moves and can create for himself. He’s crafty finisher with good touch good touch near rim and boasts a three-level scoring package. Moving forward, there still room to tighten his handle, but overall has good ball skills for his size.
What really makes Buzelis special is his upside as a jumbo floor spacer. While he’s shooting below 30% from beyond the arc this season, there’s still plenty of reason to believe he’s going to be a fantastic shooter at the NBA level. He’s currently adjusting to the deeper 3-point line and style of play in the G League. Whether it be on the move or as an off-ball spot-up shooter, Buzelis has a quick trigger with the ability to shoot over defenders. The mechanics are sound and he’s a solid free throw shooter, so expect him to really impress teams in pre-draft workouts despite the low shooting numbers thus far.
On the offensive end, Buzelis is also a smart cutter, makes the right reads and has a high basketball IQ. This is especially true when you consider his competition. He’s playing against adults, in which many have NBA experience and developed bodies. Any inconsistency from Buzelis — or any of his younger Ignite teammates — should be expected given the jump in level of competition in the G League.
Defensively, Buzelis continues to impress. He still has room to improve overall as it relates to making the right reads, staying disciplined and working the angles, but he’s been extremely disruptive with roughly 2.5 stocks (steals + blocks) per game. He has also been quite effective on the defensive glass.
It’s clear when watching Buzelis that adding strength and filling out will really unlock things on both ends of the floor. As he develops his body and gets stronger in the coming years, there’s no question he has what it takes to be a cornerstone on an NBA franchise.
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