Matas Bouzelis, the winged bull

The most advanced player. This is the trophy Matas Bouzelis is aiming forand the Lithuanian gives himself funds with two outings of 20 or more points in four matches. Last night, the Bulls winger scored 27 points against the Kings and his versatility and technique once again hit the spot. Skilled from long range in the first quarter, the “sophomore” has a knack for making plays behind the defense to score from the baseline or simply create a fake lead.

And when Josh Giddy grabs the rebound and starts the offense, Matas Bouzelis is hard to stop when he gets to the rim. That’s what appeals to his trainer, Billy Donovan.

“In every game we have to put pressure on the edge and Matas is really good at that” believes the Bulls coach. “Because when he’s got momentum, he can Eurostep, spin around defenders… And with his wingspan, he gets to the circle when it looks like he’s not going to get there.”

Slender, but also much stronger than last year, Matas Bouzelis resists contact, and indeed, with his long segments, he can reach the circle to score.

“I’ve always had it, ever since I was a kid.” he laughs. “Now you’re just starting to see it… I work a lot on my game, so those things come out naturally.”

Zach LaVine as a role model and mentor

In front of him, this night, it was Zach LaVineand the latter is very proud of his former partner’s progress. “I told Matas: he’s on the right track. He’s hardworking, talented, he can do everything. Every time I went late to practice at the Law Center, he wanted to come to work. This guy is special.”

The comments were reported to Matas Bouzelis, who returned the compliments before saying more about their relationship.

“I have to pay tribute to him, really. He’s an amazing guy. He always answered my questions, even by text. He’s a role model for me.” assures the Bulls winger. “He was my first “superstar” teammate, so to speak, but above all he was a true leader. I thank him for continuing to pick up the phone when I call him… He’s my guy, period.”

Big mouth before coming to the NBA, Matas Bouzelis knows that he is expected around the corner after every loud statement. But the Lithuanian is giving himself the means to realize his ambitions, and his coach likes that. “I really like his determination,” concludes Billy Donovan. “He wants to become a big player, and you can see that in every game.”