The NBA Slam Dunk Contest used to be the marquee event of All-Star Weekend.
It used to feature high-flying superstars going against one another for the ultimate bragging rights.
Now, it’s mostly rookies, G League standouts and end-of-rotation NBA players.
That’s why it’s not much of a surprise to see that the Chicago Bulls will send one of their first-year players to the event this year.
“Chicago Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis has committed to be in the Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend, sources tell ESPN,” insider Shams Charania wrote on X.
Chicago Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis has committed to be in the Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend, sources tell ESPN. Dunk contest will feature two high-flying, first-year players in Buzelis and San Antonio’s Stephon Castle. pic.twitter.com/CZkflXDq1C
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 21, 2025
The 6-foot-10 forward is athletic and aggressive, and this will be a nice opportunity to showcase his skills.
Head coach Billy Donovan has rarely given him a long leash, even after the Bulls selected him with the No. 11 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Buzelis has shown flashes of strong offensive play as a rookie.
He’s a fearless scorer who won’t hesitate to drive to the rim, and though he tends to be a little out of control, that’s something that could be coached out of his game with more playing time.
However, the Bulls have given more playing time to Patrick Williams, whom they now want to trade, and Zach LaVine, whom they’ve been trying to trade for more than two seasons.
Perhaps rocking the house with some emphatic poster dunks will be enough for Buzelis to find his way to the court more often this season.
The Bulls are unlikely to make the playoffs, so they should give their promising first-year player more time and reps to develop and grow through his mistakes.
As for the Slam Dunk Contest, though it is no longer the highly anticipated event it once was, it does give players like Buzelis a chance to make a name for themselves.
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