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Matas Buzelis Reaffirms Bulls Loyalty and Championship Goal

Offseason work with a hired chef plus mentorship from Kevin Durant, he says, are sharpening his game for future matchups.

Overview

  • On Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, Buzelis told the Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady podcast that he wants to spend his career with the Chicago Bulls and deliver a championship for the franchise.
  • He credited Kevin Durant with boosting his confidence and said their talks have touched on routines and mid-range work as part of his skill development.
  • Buzelis described concrete offseason changes, including hiring a chef to add about 12 pounds to his frame in order to play stronger and more consistently.
  • He revisited a March on-court trash-talk exchange with Luka Dončić that preceded Dončić’s 51-point game in a 142-130 loss and said he plans to trash-talk and seek payback in future meetings.
  • Buzelis was drafted out of high school by the Bulls in 2023, made the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2025, averaged roughly 16.3 points last season, and is now a focal point of the Bulls’ identity as he matures into a team cornerstone.