This is the final year where draft prospects will come from the G League Ignite program, as the NBA is shutting it down thanks to the introduction of NIL opportunities at the college level. One of the top players from Ignite is Matas Buzelis, who was in consideration for the top selection in the 2024 NBA Draft early in the process. Here’s how he projects as a player at the next level.
Matas Buzelis Draft Profile
Buzelis was a productive player at G League Ignite with 14.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, although it didn’t translate to wins for the program. The forward wasn’t able to truly showcase his versatility but he has a good frame and projects well in the current NBA landscape, favoring wings and switchable players.
Strengths
Sometimes, a player who can do a lot of things but isn’t excelling at one skill in particular can be a weakness. However, I think for Buzelis this jack-of-all-trades mold is actually a strength. He doesn’t demand shots and can dribble the ball well for his size, which makes him a solid playmaker from the forward spot. He’s quick as well, which allows him to make up for any physical disadvantage he might have against bigger defenders. Buzelis can make shots in a variety of ways, and there’s a good baseline for him being a perimeter threat even though his Ignite numbers were terrible.
Weaknesses
Even though he has some good instincts as a shot blocker, Buzelis can be pushed around defensively at the moment. He’s not great as an individual defender despite his fluidity offensively, which should get better with effort. His perimeter game might never revert to his high school levels, and that would make him more one-dimensional offensively. Buzelis had a lot of turnovers with Ignite, something he’ll need to clean up in the NBA.
Player comparison: Franz Wagner
That’s the upside for Buzelis, who has a lot of the same physical traits as Wagner. It’s unclear whether Buzelis will ever be that high up on the pecking order offensively, but he does have enough of a foundation as a shooter to deliver similar production. Wagner’s versatility is what makes him a great player for Orlando, and Buzelis has that same versatility. He can be molded based on the needs of the team and he has the base skills to fit in almost any situation.
