The Chicago Bulls showcased the latest currently on their roster during their statement win over the LA Lakers.
While the 115-146 loss was just an ‘off-night’ for the LA Lakers, it was a great win for the Chicago Bulls, fired up by a Josh Giddey triple double.
Coby White led the team with 36 points, showcasing his development, on a night where Matas Buzelis really stood out, scoring 31.
The game was Buzelis’ highest scoring game yet in the NBA, with the 11th overall draft pick in 2024 continuing to showcase his potential that has earned the praise of Kevin Durant.
And for one former NBA star with Bulls connections, it backed up an eye-opening comparison.
Kendall Gill was the fifth overall pick in the 1990 NBA draft, and played for the Chicago Bulls during the 2003-04 season.
He is currently a post-game analyst on the Chicago Sports Network, and he was thrilled to see Matas Buzelis’ career night in the victory over the Lakers.
Gill believes 20-year-old Buzelis’ talent is comparable to Cooper Flagg, who is expected to be the number one pick in the 2025 draft.
He says that while Flagg has great potential, Buzelis just proved he can deliver against the best, showing out against LeBron James and Luka Doncic.
Gill said: “He’s a good player, really good player, but you talking about Matas Buzelis right here, doing this against pro’s. He’s not doing this against collegiate players.
“He’s just going to get better, we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg. 31 points tonight and look at the way he shot the three point ball. He’s getting the confidence that he needs, against top level players.”
He added: A lot of people got on me when I said Matas Buzelis is in the same class as Cooper Flagg, now you seeing what I’m talking about.”
Kendall Gill made the comparison in early February after the trade deadline, following the Bulls trading away Zach LaVine.
He warned against a tanking strategy, making a claim via 670 The Score, that left the show’s hosts dumbfounded.
Gill explained: “I know his upside is tremendous, I know a lot of people saying ‘let’s lose and get the draft picks and we can get in the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes, guess what guys, you already got Cooper Flagg.
“Listen to me, I saw Matas take Cooper Flagg apart when they played one on one, I saw it with my own eyes.
“He’s bigger, he can handle the basketball better, in my opinion he’s more athletic, and they both have the same mentality – but I like Matas’ upside simply because I like his athleticism more and I like his mentality more than Cooper Flagg, he can also shoot the basketball better than Cooper Flagg.
“Three years from now you’re going to be saying Kendall was right.”
Matas Buzelis is averaging 7.7 points per game this season, but since the All-Star break he has jumped from 6.6 ppg to 12.1 ppg.
The Bulls’ win keeps them ninth in the Eastern Conference, with their 7-3 run over the last 10 ensuring they are Play-In tournament bound, erasing any chance they could fall into the Draft Lottery and land Cooper Flagg.
