Bulls Rising Star Receives Comparison to Giannis Antetokounmpo

Could Matas Follow a Similar Trajectory to Giannis?

From a numbers standpoint, Matas finished with higher shooting percentages and points per game than Giannis did in his rookie year. Giannis averaged just 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game, while recording field goal percentages of 34.7% from beyond the arc and 41.4% overall. Matas averaged 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and an assist per game, with field goal percentages of 36.1% from deep and 45.4% overall.

Matas’ rookie season averages skew even lower due to the minutes restriction he faced early on. Before Zach LaVine was traded to the Kings, Matas averaged a mere 13.6 minutes in the Bulls’ first 48 games. He recorded low statistical averages of 5.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.4 assists due to low volume. Once LaVine headed for Sacramento, Matas’ numbers skyrocketed. In the final 32 games, Matas averaged 13.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.

In contrast, Giannis’ improvement began in year two, where he averaged 12.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. His shooting percentage also jumped to 49.1%. The rest is history, as Giannis continued gradually improving. He won the Most Improved Player award in year four (averaging 22.9/8.8/5.4) and went on to win two MVP awards in years six and seven.

Giannis has Matas beat currently in terms of bulking up. By the end of Giannis’ rookie season, he had already shot up to 6-foot-11 and finished the season weighing 217 pounds. Matas has also gained weight since the combine, but last weighed in at only 209 pounds. However, a report from the Chicago Sun-Times indicates that Matas has begun offseason workouts looking bulkier and dominating team scrimmages. While it is still early in the offseason, the positive reports are strong signs that Matas will continue to gain muscle and become more dominant in the paint.

The Last Word

When comparing the two side by side, Matas and Giannis share lots of similarities. Both players excelled on both ends of the ball at a young age. Their respective statistical jumps show that they can improve quickly. When diving deep into the numbers, Ayo’s bold comparison is not as outrageous as many people would think.

Only time will tell if Matas can reach the same heights as Giannis in his career. However, Bulls fans should expect a great deal of improvement from Matas next season. Buzelis flashed enough potential last year to be considered a building block for the team. While expecting him to win two MVPs and a championship like Giannis is putting too much pressure on Buzelis, he has shown he is capable of being a star for this team. There is truly no ceiling for Matas, and he can absolutely become the number one option for the Bulls.