Why Matas Buzelis Challenged No. 1 Pick Zaccharie Risacher Ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
Ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft, the newest Chicago Bull, Matas Buzelischallenged future No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher to a one-on-one.
“Of course, I want to see him face to face,” said Buzelis Donatas Urbanas from Basketball News in March. “He just doesn’t want to do that to me. His agent won’t do that to me, and I know he won’t. It’s a business decision… My advantage is I have everything on him.”
It appeared to be a draft move. Before the draft, scouts and experts gave Risacher his flowers as the projected No. 1 pick. But Buzelis wanted to prove she could compete with the best in her class.
For what it’s worth, the consensus on the preliminary class of 2024 is that the class is pretty mundane. You won’t find a bona fide All-Star out of the gates. No one is asking for any prospect to be the focal point of a franchise’s turnaround.
With nothing to lose from this analysis, Buzelis tried to stir the pot before draft day.
“I definitely consider myself No. 1, for sure. I know the work I’ve done. I know this draft is wide open and everyone is trying to compete for it,” Buzelis told Shams Charania on Tuesday. “That’s really why I started challenging you. Why not? Let’s start a competition. Let’s try to get our hands dirty.”
A one-on-one between Risacher, who ended up being drafted by the Hawks with the first pick, and Buzelis would have been fun. Buzelis has a height advantage over Risacher, but the latter is certainly the better defender.
It’s intriguing for Bulls fans to see what a competitor Buzelis is. It’s not every day that one NBA prospect drafts another before the draft. But that’s what the Bulls are getting in Buzelis – a fierce competitor.
“I respect Zach (Risacher) as a player… He just doesn’t want to see me,” Buzelis told Charania. “I’m just going to keep it real with everyone. He doesn’t want to see me and I’m going to keep it. The offer still stands. And I’m waiting to hear back.”
