It would be impossible to guess who the Chicago Bulls' lottery pick models his game after.
19-year-old Matas Buzelis -- selected at No. 11 by Chicago in the 2024 NBA Draft -- sat down with NBC Sports Chicago's K.C. Johnson on Thursday to discuss an array of topics.
Buzelis spoke with Johnson about his family, his high school experience, and his time in the G League, among other things.
One of the most interesting segments of the interview came when Buzelis was asked to name the NBA players he watches most often.
"I just watch people who get buckets," Buzelis said. "But also defensively ... guys on the defensive end like Andrei Kirilenko."
Kirilenko was the least surprising of the players named by Buzelis. Kirilenko was very similar to Buzelis physically and athletically, and like Buzelis, Kirilenko had a knack for blocking shots from the weak side.
If Chicago is getting the next Kirilenko in Buzelis, the Bulls will have made an excellent selection in the draft.
Buzelis also listed Jaden McDaniels as a player he watches for defensive education. McDaniels, 23, has quickly evolved into one of the NBA's premier defenders as a member of the contending Minnesota Timberwolves. At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot wingspan and an endless motor, McDaniels possesses the length, instincts, and tenacity required to guard four positions in the league.
Two further players mentioned by Buzelis will come as a surprise to many: J.R. Smith and O.J. Mayo.
Buzelis's interviewer Johnson was shocked to hear these two names but also recognized it as a valuable peek into Buzelis's deep knowledge of NBA players.
Buzelis already appears to be a student of the game. He'll have his first chance to don a Bulls uniform on July 13 when Chicago opens up summer league in Las Vegas.
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