How much will Matas Buzelis make from his rookie deal? – NBC Sports Chicago

With choice no. 11 in the 2024 NBA draft, the Bulls selected 6-foot-10 forward Matas Buzelis.

Buzelis, 19, was born and raised in Chicago. He played one season with the G-League Ignite before entering the NBA draft. With the Ignite, Buzelis averaged 14.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game with them in 26 games.

Buzelis now joins the Bulls, who will undoubtedly sign him to his rookie contract, which should be a four-year deal with the first two years guaranteed.

Remember, first round picks can sign up to 80% of the NBA rookie scale or up to 120% of the rookie scale. At 120% for choice no. 11, Buzelis’ first contract could be worth up to $24.9 million, according to Spotrac.

Spotrac estimates that the first two years of Buzelis’ contract could pay him $5.21 million and $5.47 million, respectively. Potential club options for Years 3 and 4 would reach $5.7 million in Year 3 and $7.6 million in Year 4, according to the scale. The top contract in the 2024 NBA draft is worth $57.1 million over four years.

MORE: Who is Matas Buzelis? Everything you need to know about the Bulls’ newest addition to the 2024 NBA Draft

Originally a strong swimmer, Buzelis turned his attention to basketball after playing a Covid-shortened season at Hinsdale Central High School in suburban Chicago.

But he didn’t expect to reap anything from his athletic career.

“I didn’t really think I was going to be a professional athlete until my freshman year of high school,” Buzelis told NBC Sports Chicago in an exclusive interview in March. “I’ve always been a swimmer and a video gamer. I never thought I’d be a professional athlete.”

He transferred to two different boarding schools before graduating. By the end of high school, Buzelis had won Gatorade Player of the Year, McDonald’s All-American, and was selected to play in the Jordan Brand Classic and the Nike Hoops Summit.

From there, he decided to play for the G-League team Ignite, opting out of the college game, ahead of the 2024 NBA Draft. He had a strong season with the Ignite, flexing his versatile offensive big man skills and his guard rim constant.

Buzelis was originally projected to go in the top five picks of the NBA draft, at least the top 10. But he fell one pick further to the Bulls, right where he wanted to go.

“I’d feel good. Hometown hero!” Buzelis told NBC Sports Chicago when asked how he would feel if the Bulls drafted him. “It would be fun to play for Chicago. Just watching them when I was younger, watching Derrick Rose play. It would be a dope experience.”

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