The world of basketball rarely falls silent, but every so often, a newcomer prompts even veteran fans and card collectors to double-check their rulebooks, as they wonder if they somehow missed a star slipping quietly onto center stage. Enter Matas Buzelis, the towering 6’10” talisman whose recent audacious plays have sent tremors through the NBA, igniting excitement beyond the courts and into the sphere of collectors who are snapping up his rookie cards at a frenetic pace.
Last weekend, the Chicago Bulls rookie forward took to the spotlight with dazzling flair against none other than the formidable Los Angeles Lakers. In a scorning blaze that would make any defensive coordinator quiver, Buzelis notched up a career-high 31 points. It wasn’t just the volume of points that thrust him under the magnifying glass; it was the breathtaking style with which he accumulated them. The arena paused in collective awe as Buzelis blitzed by an unsuspecting Luka Doncic, concluding the drive with a jaw-dropping, gravity-defying one-handed dunk. That singular moment was perhaps the bold exclamation point punctuating his breakout game that sent both fans and collectors into a flurry.
As the 11th overall pick in the NBA Draft, Buzelis arrived with more whispers than shouts. His skill set hinted at future greatness, though it arrived bundled with uncertainties typical of any rookie on the cusp of finding their role. However, since the All-Star break, Buzelis has been answering rookie doubts in resounding fashion on the court. The numbers tell a compelling narrative: he’s logging an average of 25.8 minutes per game, achieving 11.9 points, pulling down 4.1 rebounds, creating 1.8 assists, and nearly blocking a shot every game. With the Bulls embracing a new fast-paced, aggressive style of play, Buzelis has emerged as a fundamental piece, comfortably slotting into a larger role and showcasing his substantial potential.
Where potential ebbs, the marketplace flows. Enter the collectible universe, where cardboard heroes rise and fall faster than fashion trends. March witnessed a remarkable spectacle: 2,731 reported sales of Buzelis cards within its first 25 days, tracked by Card Ladder. Eighteen of those were transactions surpassing the $1,000 mark—an impressive vault from earlier times when such sales were rare. The rarefied air of this hobby market was a domain Buzelis hadn’t touched until Panini’s 2024-25 Prizm NBA Cards brought him to center stage.
His standout pre-Prizm transaction in January saw a Prizm Draft Picks Black Prizm Auto 1/1 fetch $700—a princely sum soon overshadowed. Panini’s release doused fuel on the flame, propelling two of his cards beyond the $2,000 barrier, including the coveted 2024-25 Panini Prizm Green Shimmer Rookie /5 ($2,150) and a Panini Prizm Snakeskin Auto /15, that clocked in at $2,194.69. For collectors, these figures represent more than dollar signs; they’re indicators of Buzelis’ burgeoning status in the rookie card hierarchy.
Buzelis’ rise upends traditional expectations, positioning him among the top echelon of his draft class. In March alone, top pick Zacharie Risacher recorded five card sales in the thousands, while Alexandre Sarr garnered one. Stephon Castle, a prominent Rookie of the Year contender, posted 16, while Buzelis edged into the lead with eighteen—and counting.
Compounding the intrigue of his ascent is the fact that Buzelis entered the season sans the customary rookie fanfare. Yet, through unyielding performances, he’s not just treading the water of NBA mediocrity; he’s making waves, causing the marketplace to keep pace with his meteoric rise.
This rise is mirrored in Chicago’s evolving landscape. As the Bulls pivot from the DeRozan-LaVine era, a fresh nucleus is forming. Buzelis, with Coby White’s speed and Josh Giddey’s acumen directing the team’s play, is thriving. Leading the team in dunks, each game now brims with his expanding confidence and formidable presence—a presence that was, not long ago, mired in conjecture about his potential.
For a rookie pool that floated in under low expectations, Buzelis stands as a glittering surprise, showing that sometimes the best discoveries are those hidden just beneath the surface. His combination of size, skill, and fluid athleticism vaults his potential to immense heights—much like those electrifying one-handed dunks. And if his upward trajectory remains uncurtailed, both his career and his card values are set on paths much like his nickname might suggest—uncaged and soaring.
Simply put, Matas Buzelis is more than a name to watch; he is an encore act to those few unforgettable moments in sports where prowess and potential sweetly harmonize—and both the NBA and the collectible market are tuning in.
