Billy Donovan reveals the area Matas Bouzelis needs to grow to take the ‘next step’ after the bench

Matas Buzelis is among the most promising young pieces on a Chicago Bulls a team looking for its future core. however, Bouzelis’ high position in the organization she didn’t stop Billy Donovan off the bench during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s loss to the Utah Jazz.

When asked about Bouzelis’ bench, Donovan revealed an area the 21-year-old needs to improve.

“For Matas, it’s more the standard of his control,” Donovan said before Friday’s 112-109 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. “Are you putting your body on someone to block? Are you using your length and size where you should be if you’re a short guy to provide some rim protection, are you trying to get your body into plays? Are you trying to get your body into plays? Those are the things he needs to do to take that (next) step as a player.”

Bouzelis responded to Donovan’s tough love during the Bulls’ loss to the Nets. While he struggled offensively, shooting 4 of 15 from the field, he impacted the game with his overall activity.

Bulls’ Matas Bouzelis impresses Billy Donovan with coaching ability

The 6-foot-8 forward tied his career high with four blocks to go along with six rebounds and a steal. Bouzelis’ ability to coach was among his best assets early in his career.

“When I coach him, I think from his point of view, he wants to be told what to do. Because I think coming in, quite frankly, he had no idea what led to the win. Nothing,” Donovan said. “He played on a team in the G League where they lost a lot of their veterans to injuries; they played a lot of young guys. And I’m just trying to put things in his control that would affect him to win, whether he’s making shots or missing shots. He’s kind of able to go forward and take information and figure out where he’s at and how to market him better. He’s not a guy who buries his head where you need to pick him up (and say): ‘Hey, come on, hang in there, it’s going to be okay.’ You never have to do that with him.”

“The biggest thing with any player’s growth or improvement is that you have to look inside first. It’s so easy (to say), ‘Well, Billy kicked me out. I never got into a rhythm.’ There are a ton of excuses you can come up with. But he wants to get better, and I think that says a lot about his inner thinking about where he has to get better… He always comes back with, ‘I messed that up, I messed this up, I’ve got to get better, I’ve got to put my body here.’ I appreciate that. Never, ever from him, ‘Well, but…’ He never does that. I think he really uses mistakes as a way to grow.”

After a promising rookie season, Bouzelis made a significant impact during the first half of his second campaign. The former No. 11 pick averaged 14.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.4 blocks on .477/.343/.774 shooting in 41 appearances.