In the world of professional basketball, young talent often comes with a golden aura that excites fans and investors alike. Matas Buzelis is presently basking in such a glow, emerging not only as a promising player but also as a new sensation in the basketball card collecting community. Despite being the 11th pick in last year’s NBA draft, Buzelis is now proving to be a jewel in the crown for the Chicago Bulls, and collectors are scrambling to get their hands on his rookie cards.
Basketball aficionados are talking about a particular game that seems to have sparked this fervor. It happened last Saturday when Buzelis, standing tall at 6’10”, carried the Bulls to victory with a career-high 31 points against the Lakers. This wasn’t just a game; it was a grand performance marked by Buzelis maneuvering like a maestro on the court, effectively turning skeptical heads. He commandeered the narrative with an electrifying play, cruising past none other than Luka Doncic to deliver a gravity-defying one-handed dunk. This single moment turned into a collective gasp from fans, merging awe into anticipation about what Buzelis could become.
Buzelis’s journey to recognition wasn’t typical. Drafted with lingering questions about his ultimate potential, he’s slowly and steadily turning answers into actions. He may have arrived in the NBA with doubts tailing him, but his recent performances are swiftly changing the story. Since the All-Star break, Buzelis’s game time has surged to an average of 25.8 minutes per contest, during which he’s producing solid numbers: 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists, plus an additional half-a-block each night. The Bulls’ faster, more aggressive playstyle is acting as a perfect stage for his athletic prowess to shine.
The result of this on-court transformation is vividly reflected in the card collecting world, where Buzelis is being identified as a valuable investment. The past month saw a whirlwind activity centered around Buzelis’s cards. According to Card Ladder, within just 25 days, there were 2,731 documented sales of his cards. And for the first time, 18 of these sales crossed the $1,000 threshold, a feat unheard of before Panini’s 2024-25 Prizm NBA cards were released.
Before the release of his first professional Prizm cards, Buzelis’s top selling card—a 2024 Prizm Draft Picks Black Prizm Auto 1/1—sold for a modest $700. Fast forward a few months, and two of his cards from Panini are now fetching princely sums: a Panini Prizm Green Shimmer Rookie numbered out of five hovers at $2,150, and a Panini Prizm Snakeskin Auto limited to 15 copies hits a staggering $2,194.69.
In the ever-competitive arena of rookie sensations, Buzelis’s value, both as a player and as a collectible, becomes even more apparent when compared to his peers. Top draft pick Zacharie Risacher and fellow draftee Stephon Castle, each boasting strong card sales, now face fierce competition with Buzelis’s 18 high-value transactions this March—an impressive figure that marks his emergence on the scene.
Buzelis’s ascent comes as the Chicago Bulls also find themselves in a transition phase, moving away from the days dominated by DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine. A new roster is emerging, prominently featuring key contributions from Coby White’s lightning speed, Josh Giddey’s commanding court presence, and now Buzelis’s exhilarating plays. The rookie has pivoted to being a major part of Chicago’s game plan, currently leading the team with sheer energy, audacity, and frequency in executing gravity-defying dunks.
The flair and promise that Buzelis brings are captivating, and the market is responding favorably. For a rookie class that initially seemed like it would deliver without much excitement, Buzelis is leading the charge to become the surprise package and a standout name. His size coupled with a fluid style of basketball presents one of the highest development ceilings amongst his contemporaries.
Although still raw and undoubtedly on a learning curve, Buzelis, at just 20 years old, displays a level of maturity, composure, and presence that’s becoming irresistible for enthusiasts. The performances he strings together seem to lift the spirits, not only captivating the eyes of his followers on the hardwood but also bewitching collectors willing to invest in his legacy via sought-after collectible cards. With such momentum, the buzz around Matas Buzelis is set to ascend much like the arcs of his jump shots—as fans and collectors anticipate where this journey will take him next.
