In a season filled with surprises and emerging talents, Matas Buzelis is quickly becoming the next big name to grace the NBA stage. He was perhaps not the center of attention at the beginning, considering he was drafted as the 11th overall pick, but his performances are rapidly rewriting expectations. On the court, his tall figure of 6’10” not only makes him a hard-to-miss presence but is now synonymous with nail-biting action and thrilling highlights, especially during his jaw-dropping, career-high performance of 31 points against the Los Angeles Lakers.
During that game, it wasn’t just the points that captured the audience’s admiration; it was his style, finesse, and elegance with which he waltzed around the court—most notably leaving a bewildered Luka Doncic in his wake with a spectacular one-handed dunk that was equal parts grace and power. The entire arena was abuzz, buzzing like a beehive stirred by an unexpected entrant who brought both surprise and delight.
Initially, Matas Buzelis entered the NBA with a few question marks hovering around him like ominous clouds. Yet, as if driven by the narrative arc of every sports drama, he has addressed these doubts with increasingly excellent exhibitions of his potential. It’s worth noting that post-All-Star break, his playing time has risen to an average of 25.8 minutes per game. In this time, he’s boasting an average of 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, along with almost a block per matchup to his name. The Chicago Bulls have shifted towards a more up-tempo and aggressive style of play, and it’s clear Buzelis is relishing in it, becoming one of its prime beneficiaries.
This impressive performance hasn’t just been noted by fans and analysts but has caught the attention of the card collectors’ market—a vivid and fervent universe that mirrors the NBA’s dynamism. According to Card Ladder, there have been a staggering 2,731 Buzelis card sales tracked in March alone. Those numbers include 18 individual sales over $1,000, a previously unheard of feat before the release of Panini’s 2024-25 Prizm NBA edition.
Pre-Prizm, the pinnacle of Buzelis card sales was a modest $700 for his 2024 Prizm Draft Picks Black Prizm Auto 1/1. But this has now been overshadowed as two of his cards have recently surpassed the $2,000 mark. The Panini Prizm Green Shimmer Rookie /5 sold for $2,150, while the Panini Prizm Snakeskin Auto /15 went for a handsome $2,194.69.
Among his rookie peers, Buzelis’s ascent is cementing him as a central discussion figure. Take, for example, other notable rookies like Zacharie Risacher, who has understandably seen multiple four-figure card sales, or Stephon Castle, a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year with 16 high-figure transactions. Yet, Buzelis is right there with 18 such sales, and the metrics show no signs of slowing down.
His rise is even more dramatic given that he arrived without the heavy expectations and media glare typically accorded to top picks. Now it’s his court craftsmanship doing the talking, and the marketplace is agilely catching up.
In the broader tapestry of the Chicago Bulls, the team is witnessing an evolution. Shifting away from the DeRozan-LaVine narrative, a rejuvenated core is assembling. It includes the explosive speed of Coby White and the sharp court vision of Josh Giddey. Buzelis has managed to carve out a significant role amidst this emerging dynamic. He leads the team in dunks, using his stature to his advantage and evolving in confidence with each subsequent appearance.
For a rookie class that didn’t arrive with the same fanfare, Buzelis is rapidly proving to be a notable revelation. His combination of physical attributes and playing skill marks him with one of the brightest potentials in this year’s assemblage of rookies. Should he sustain or even elevate his current trajectory, the fervor surrounding him—and his cards—surely promises to grow.
Even though he may be categorized as raw talent at just 20 years of age, Matas plays with remarkable composure and elegance, stringing together performances that are near impossible to ignore both for the avid collector and the casual fan. The magic he’s weaving on the basketball court is being etched into cards that many collectors are eager to hold, hoping they contain a piece of history in the making.