Two Bulls Players Draw Giannis Antetokounmpo Comparison From NBA Analyst

In terms of their potential, NBA analyst Trey Kerby is so high on them in fact, that he thinks the Bulls potentially have a pair of superstar wings on their roster, going as far as comparing them to Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Appearing alongside Yahoo Sports analyst Kevin O'Connor, Kerby had some strong praise for the Bulls' forward duo.

“So when I’m feeling my most optimistic, I like to think that the Bulls have the next two Giannis’. They’ve got the next American Giannis in Matas Buzelis, and then the French Giannis in Noa Essengue," Kerby said.

Kerby didn't just leave it there, adding some justification of his own behind it.

“Giannis wasn’t an All-Star as a rookie, nor was he as a second-year player, but once he put on some muscle, once he got some reps, handled the ball during the Jason Kidd era, he really popped. So yeah, I would love to see that from Buzelis this year," he added.

Evaluating The Potential Of Buzelis and Essengue

Looking at Buzelis first, who finished his rookie season with the Bulls earning All-Rookie Second Team honors, his numbers are comparable to those of Antetokounmpo's rookie season. Buzelis finished with averages of 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists while shooting 45.4% from the field. On the other hand, Antetokounmpo averaged 6.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists on 41.4% shooting.

However, Buzelis shone during his 31 starts last season, boosting those averages to 13.0 points and 4.5 rebounds. There are some similarities in what they can bring to the table, but Buzelis has the edge as a shooter, while Giannis has the edge as a defender.

As for Essengue, NBA fans haven't seen much of him, but he did have two promising performances at Summer League, which could indicate what's to come. He'll likely take a while to prove himself before he gets a chance to become a starter, but if he can produce similarly to Buzelis, it's a promising sign for Chicago's future.