Former G League Ignite forward Matas Buzelis isn’t the first player to call out a projected No. 1 pick ahead of the NBA Draft and he won’t be the last. With that said, the 19-year-old’s comments towards JL Bourg forward Zaccharie Risacher were spicy, perhaps even more so than when former G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson claimed to be a better prospect than 2023 No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama.
Matas Buzelis Challenges Zaccharie Risacher to 1-on-1
As he prepares to host a basketball tournament in Lithuania, BasketNews’ Donatas Urbonas asks Buzelis if he’d like to challenge Risacher in a pre-draft workout.
“Of course, I want to see him one-on-one.” Buzelis says confidently. “He just doesn’t want to do that with me. His agent will not do that with me, and I know he won’t. It’s a business decision.”
Pressed about what advantages he has that would allow him to win their one-on-one matchup, Buzelis offers: “My advantage is that I have everything over him.”
Whether scouts have him or Risacher higher on their 2024 NBA Draft boards, the competitiveness that Buzelis is showing is an intangible trait that teams find invaluable. After all, the NBA is a league with no more than 450 players on a standard contract at any time. The level of confidence that Buzelis has not only helps a player make it to the NBA but thrive in it. Furthermore, in terms of player development, those prospects with the drive to be great often manifest it.
Michael Jordan, Tracy McGrady, and Jimmy Butler are just a few players who were counted out early in their basketball journey or didn’t hit the ground running in the NBA. Buzelis is talented enough to be a consensus top-10 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft but that doesn’t guarantee he’ll be a successful NBA player. Even Risacher offers no assurances about his future outlook. The draft is the door but having a foot in the NBA doesn’t mean they’ll stay for long.
For that reason, Buzelis focusing on improvement more than his draft position also inspires confidence.
“I try not to look at it,” Buzelis admits. “It’s obviously there, and I see it. But I try to stay in the zone. I know what I’m capable of, and I don’t look at what number I am. I know if I’m getting better, then I’m winning.”
Matas Buzelis vs. Zaccharie Risacher
A two-time Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year, Buzelis had a strong showing with the Ignite. In 26 games, he averaged 14.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, and 0.9 steals, shooting 44.5 percent from the field and 27.3 percent from 3. He increased his production after another projected lottery pick, Ron Holland, opted for a season-ending thumb surgery. In his last 10 games, he averaged 17.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, and 0.8 steals per game, shooting 43.9 percent from the field and 23.8 percent from 3.
As for his argument that he is better at everything than Risacher, there’s little doubt that Buzelis offers more offensively. He scores from all three levels, using his length as well as he uses his instincts when attacking off-the-dribble. At the defensive end, his size and anticipation allow him to shine as a shot-blocker.
Meanwhile, Risacher has averaged 11.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, and 0.4 steals per game this season, shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 43.0 percent from 3. His best stretch came during the EuroCup, as he averaged 12.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 0.8 blocks, and 0.4 steals per game, shooting 53.8 percent from the field and 53.1 percent from 3.
First and foremost, Risacher is a 3-point specialist. He’s capable of finishing at the rim in transition or on closeouts. However, his offense primarily comes by way of his outside jumper. Defensively, he has plenty of potential as a shot-blocker, whether as a help defender or in recovery.
The last word on Buzelis and Risacher? Neither is the perfect prospect, but Buzelis has every reason to believe he’s better.
