Not a lot of things have gone the Chicago Bulls’ way since jerseys 23 and 33 last suited up together.

Poor decisions, untimely injuries, and plain bad luck have haunted the franchise for two decades — but there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon.

Chicago now boasts a young core in Matas Buzelis, Coby White, Josh Giddey, and 2025 first-rounder Noa Essengue, each of whom are tall for their position and can still thrive in an up-tempo attack.

Among them, Buzelis appears to be the most promising. Projected as a top-two pick a year before the 2024 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-10 forward slid to eleventh overall after an uneven year with the G League Ignite. The primary knock on him were his struggles with the league’s physicality, but this perceived flaw is easily addressed, especially considering that he is still only 20 years old.

What makes Buzelis even more appealing to the Bulls’ fanbase is that he was born in Chicago, similar to former franchise icon Derrick Rose. 

In his rookie campaign, Buzelis once again took some time to grow acquainted with the NBA style of play. However, he showed some glimpses of his potential over the second half of the season, averaging 13 points and 4.8 rebounds in his 27 appearances after the NBA All-Star break.

Buzelis put on a few impressive performances, including a career-best 31-point game in a road win over the Los Angeles Lakers in late March, followed up by a statline of 28 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and a block in a one-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks a week later. He also posted a perfect shooting night prior to the break with 24 points on 10-of-10 field goal shooting in an early February win against the Miami Heat.

He flashed a promising skillset as the season went on, highlighted by an ever-improving three-point shot and an uncanny ability to get to the basket reminiscent of another up-and-coming star, Franz Wagner of the Orlando Magic. 

On the other end of the court, Buzelis is proving to be an asset on defense with his length and energy.

Chicago has included the incoming sophomore in its Summer League team this year where he has emerged as their leader. This should prove to be invaluable to Buzelis as he gains experience in being the focal point of a team heading into his second year in the NBA. He is still quite rough around the edges, yet his potential is obvious and he should only get better with more reps. 

If Buzelis can fill up his frame and continue polishing his skills, Chicago’s long-awaited turnaround might finally be underway. The front office still has work to do, but at least it now has a cornerstone–a homegrown one at that–that they can build around. Better days are coming for Bulls fans, although some patience will still be needed in the meantime.