Matas Buzelis ranked third best NBA Summer League rookie by SB Nation originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
Chicago buffaloes noob Matas Buzelis turned into a impressive showing in the NBA Summer League, which took place in Las Vegas earlier this month.
The 11th overall pick played in all five games, starting four of them. He threw down monster dunks, some in traffic, including two on Saturday. He faced his opponents. He talked rubbish. He sought contact, reaching the queue 27 times
And while he obviously needs to gain strength and fill out his body to play more adequately through contact, the fact that he didn’t give up much during summer league spoke volumes.
Defensively, Buzelis showed strong shot-blocking instincts and a willingness to switch to smaller players on the perimeter. He said becoming a two-way force at the next level is his goal. He blocked 10 shots in summer league.
His impact caught the attention of SB Nation, who named him the third best rookie in this year’s Summer League.
“Buzelis was considered a lottery pick for his potential to play on the perimeter offensively at 6’10, but he proved in summer league that he can also make an impact with his energy and activity as his skill set develops,” Ricky O, from SB Nation. ‘Donnell wrote.
His two blocks and two steals per game were noteworthy, as was his willingness to hit the three despite a rough 6-for-28 showing.
“The 19-year-old will struggle with his scoring efficiency as a rookie, but his high motor will make him productive even as his body and shooting stroke develop,” O’Donnell wrote.
