When Matas Buzelis took the court last Saturday against the Lakers, few anticipated the masterclass that would unfold. Towering at 6’10”, the Chicago Bulls rookie didn’t just have a career night with 31 blistering points; he emerged as a revelation, compelling fans and collectors alike to sit up and reconsider the value of his playing cards.
The game was a spectacle—a sports drama if you will—where Buzelis took center stage. He darted past Luka Doncic with a ballet-like precision, leapt skyward, and delivered a one-handed dunk that seemed to defy gravity and logic. It was as if he orchestrated his own basketball symphony, with the entire arena vibrating in awe.
Drafted eleventh in an NBA draft filled with potential stars, there were whispers of his prowess, but nothing screamed certainty. The early assessments pegged Buzelis as a player with flashes of brilliance, yet burdened by persistent questions about his consistency and fit. However, since the All-Star break, the conversation around Buzelis has shifted dramatically. Tabulations now consider his upswing in minutes—to a noteworthy average of 25.8 per game—and a respectable 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and nearly a block per game. Not bad for a young talent once thought of as a question mark.
The Bulls have pivoted their strategy to a more dynamic, aggressive form, and Buzelis has found a burgeoning role to thrive in their new scheme. His basketball IQ, coupled with a penchant for highlight plays, seamlessly aligns with Chicago’s fresh tempo—much to the delight of fans hungry for new heroes.
In a parallel universe of sports memorabilia, the card collecting market was always poised to react swiftly to such ascents. In just the first 25 days of March, Card Ladder tracked an impressive 2,731 Buzelis card transactions—a stinging reminder of his newfound appeal. Among these trades are 18 individual sales surpassing the $1,000 mark, a scenario scarce even before the release of Panini’s 2024-25 Prizm NBA cards.
Take, for instance, a standout piece: his 2024 Prizm Draft Picks Black Prizm Auto 1/1, which once fetched a mere $700 January. Compare that to the exuberant post-Prizm sales now touching and exceeding $2,000:
– 2024-25 Panini Prizm Green Shimmer Rookie /5 – $2,150
– 2024-25 Panini Prizm Snakeskin Auto /15 – $2,194.69
This swift marketplace evolution places Buzelis eye-to-eye with his draft contemporaries, carving his niche among the elite right before our eyes. March marked a period where fellow rookies like top pick Zacharie Risacher boasted five four-figure card sales and Stephon Castle, touted for Rookie of the Year, hit 16. Yet Buzelis, with 18 high-level card deals, is marking his territory and adding intrigue with each stat line.
Intriguingly, Buzelis’ ascent wasn’t scripted and lacked the glaring preseason spotlight some peers enjoyed. But with the era of DeRozan and LaVine fading into the rearview, the Bulls are evolving—a process Buzelis is very much a part of. Arena observers have watched in awe as Buzelis—and Coby White coupled with Josh Giddey’s breathtaking court vision—brings a refreshing dynamism to a changing side.
As it stands, Buzelis leads in dunks for the team, each display more rousing than the last, projecting a jaunty confidence that is devilishly catching. For a rookie class not inundated with buzz, Buzelis’s narrative continues to confound and impress. His blend of athleticism, finesse, and strategic play gives Chicago fans cause for optimism—even if he is raw, yet arguably one of the standouts in his category.
Unspooling at merely 20 years, Buzelis is a tableau of poise under pressure, earning each ounce of respect with sweat and grit. It’s a development that has collectors—and basketball aficionados—glued to each of his steps, each dribble, each basket. As we edge deeper into the season, the crescendo of interest in his persona, his cards, and his ability shows no sign of relenting—each triumph adding layers to the most intriguing rookie tale of the year.