Matas Buzelis is sending waves throughout the NBA, not just with basketballs through hoops but also with his budding reputation that has collectors scrambling to get a piece of the action. The towering 6’10” Chicago Bulls rookie had a jaw-dropping breakout game last Saturday, notching a personal best with 31 points against the Los Angeles Lakers. This wasn’t just any ordinary game; it was the kind of performance that turns skeptics into believers and makes the trading card market roar to life.
Buzelis didn’t just amass points; he orchestrated a basketball symphony, bringing fans to their feet and drawing gasps from those in attendance. His crescendo was a dazzling one-handed dunk over Luka Doncic that not only lit up the court but also electrified the crowd and had the entire internet talking. It was in this defining moment that Buzelis began to shatter doubts about his 11th overall pick status in last year’s draft. Questions regarding his potential have been lingering, but performances like these are rapidly providing answers.
Since the All-Star break, Buzelis has seen his playing time tick upward to 25.8 minutes per game, a nod to his evolving impact on the team. His average contributions have been commendable, with 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and near a block per game. With the Bulls adopting a more fast-paced, attacking style, Buzelis is finding his footing and this kinetic environment is proving to be fertile ground for his growth.
And as Matas Buzelis shines on the court, a parallel tale is unfolding in the corridors of sports card collecting. Enthusiasts and investors are interpreting his on-court success as a golden opportunity. March has seen an astronomical uptick in the trade of Buzelis cards — human nature is ever in search of the next big thing, and it appears they may have found him. Card Ladder metrics reveal 2,731 Buzelis card sales just in the past 25 days of March alone. Notably, 18 of these sales breached the $1,000 mark — a quantum leap from the days before Panini rolled out their 2024-25 Prizm NBA lineup.
Consider this: His stand-out card transaction was recorded in January when a 2024 Prizm Draft Picks Black Prizm Auto 1/1 was sold for $700. That record now smolders in the dust following two recent blockbuster sales surpassing $2,000: a Panini Prizm Green Shimmer Rookie /5 went for $2,150 and a Snakeskin Auto /15 fetched a handsome $2,194.69.
Juxtaposed against his peers from the same draft class, Buzelis’s trajectory seems all the more impressive. While top pick Zacharie Risacher had five sales reaching four figures, fellow draftees Alexandre Sarr and Stephon Castle experienced modest success with one and 16 such sales, respectively. Our man of the hour, Buzelis, stands at 18 high-value sales — and the numbers still climb.
This surge is particularly fascinating considering that Buzelis didn’t start the season under the typical blaze of rookie spotlight. Where he lacked visibility, his game stepped in and spoke volumes. Bulls’ strategy is undergoing an evolution as well. In the gradual pivot from a DeRozan-LaVine-centric game plan, young talent is taking the helm. Coby White’s agility and Josh Giddey’s playmaking are enabling talents like Buzelis to thrive. Leading the team in memorable dunk-offs and palpable confidence, he becomes an increasingly indispensable asset in this ever-evolving squad.
In a season where rookies flew under the radar for the most part, Matas Buzelis is demolishing expectations and reputations are being rapidly recast. With a blend of size, dexterity, and smoothness, he boasts one of the most promising potential arcs in the draft class. If the stars continue to align, and his progress remains uninterrupted, not only will basketball fans grow hungrier for his performances, but the buzz around his trading cards will only inflate.
Though still raw and unpolished in many respects, Buzelis is just 20 years old — yet he’s playing with a maturity and a calm that belies his years. His unfolding story holds the kind of irresistible allure that makes for both a mesmerizing basketball narrative and a collector’s dream. What started as a question mark has evolved into an exclamation point, one that captures the imagination of pundits, fans, and hobbyists alike.
