In the ever-evolving theater of the NBA, stories of underdogs rising to the occasion are a beloved staple that keeps fans and collectors on their toes. Enter Matas Buzelis, the fresh-faced rookie who is proving to be not just a diamond in the rough for the Chicago Bulls but also an unexpected star in the collectors’ market. This towering 6’10” phenom blindsided the Los Angeles Lakers last Saturday with a mesmerizing performance, where he racked up a career-high 31 points. Yet, his points weren’t just numbers on a scoreboard; they were a symphonic blend of skill and flair, culminating in an unforgettable moment when he left viewers gaping by blitzing past Luka Doncic for a one-handed dunk destined for highlight reels.
Picked as the 11th overall in the draft, Buzelis began his professional journey under a cloud of uncertainties compounded by glimpses of undeniable talent. Fast forward to now, and he’s addressing every skepticism with grit and grace on the court. With the All-Star break giving him wings, his playtime surged to an average of 25.8 minutes per game, during which he posts commendable stats of 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and nearly a block each contest. Chicago’s contemporary, fast-paced strategy fits him like a glove, opening a window for Buzelis to flourish.
The quick pivot to center stage isn’t just on the court but resonates in the collectors’ market, where Buzelis’ cards are experiencing a meteoric rise in demand and price. The calm before the storm turned electric in March, as Card Ladder logged an impressive 2,731 Buzelis card sales within a mere 25 days. Sales reaching the four-digit realm, once a rare occurrence for his cards, have turned into the new normal post the release of Panini’s 2024-25 Prizm NBA series.
His pre-Prizm benchmark happened months earlier, in January, with his 2024 Prizm Draft Picks Black Prizm Auto 1/1 fetching $700. A remarkable figure that would gradually appear modest compared to the two blockbusting sales since Prizm NBA dropped: a Panini Prizm Green Shimmer Rookie /5 sold for $2,150 and Panini Prizm Snakeskin Auto /15 for $2,194.69. Buzelis is sprinting fast in the value race among his draft contemporaries, matching their stride-for-stride and making conversations about him unavoidable in any serious collection discussion.
To paint a clearer picture, the top pick Zacharie Risacher has witnessed five such sales at similar price points in March, Alexandre Sarr has marked the sheet once, whereas Stephon Castle, a prime Rookie of the Year contender, has seen 16 similar sales. Buzelis, however, has boldly claimed 18 to his name—and it’s anyone’s guess where his count will end.
One would think that rookies entering the league without an overwhelming spotlight might take time to find their footing. Yet, Buzelis is one of those rare breeds whose game is generating its buzz without needing a gratuitous push. The basketball cosmos in Chicago is shifting. The franchise is transitioning from the DeRozan-LaVine years, carving out a squad where players like Coby White and Josh Giddey create an environment ripe for Buzelis to make his mark. His penchant for aggressive plays, currently making him the team’s leader in dunks, signals a confidence that seems to be growing exponentially.
A rookie class marked with tepid excitement during preseason could find in Buzelis a beacon of unexpected surprises. His blend of size, skill, and smoothness is crafting a path toward what could be one of the most soaring growth trajectories among his peers. The notion of his development barreling ahead seems like a real possibility, with rumblings of his potential deafeningly loud within the collectors’ circles.
There’s a rawness to this 20-year-old—that undeniable freshness which invokes a peculiar charm—a characteristic enhancing the exhilaration surrounding him. Buzelis is deftly weaving his narrative of poise and artistry, one game at a time, in ways that fans adore and collectors can’t resist. And as his narrative gets more potent, the price tags on Matas Buzelis’ cards are likely not just to grow alongside the NBA’s landscape but to redefine the rookie market’s future.
This debut season, tucked away in the pages of NBA lore, could very well be the opening chapter of a story full of surprises and elevating ceilings no one saw coming.
