Matas Buzelis has been ranked second among Central Division small forwards for the 2026-27 season, a clear sign that the Chicago Bulls may already have one of the better young wings in the NBA. He was placed behind Ausar Thompson, but the overall picture is still a positive one for a player who looks ready for a year 3 leap.
That standing comes after a 2025-26 season in which Buzelis averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 34.9% from three on 6.4 attempts a night. For a 6-foot-7 wing still moving through the early stages of his career, those numbers help explain why he is being treated as more than just another promising name in the division.
Why the Bulls have reason to be encouraged
The Central Division has several intriguing small forwards, and the comparison was not a soft one. Buzelis was weighed against players such as Peyton Watson, Jaime Jacquez Jr. and Aaron Nesmith, which makes the No. 2 spot more meaningful than a simple preseason label.
Being ranked behind Ausar Thompson does not diminish Buzelis' progress. If anything, it places him in strong company and reinforces the idea that the Bulls are building around a wing who is already producing real output and not just long-term potential.
What Buzelis has already shown
The numbers from last season suggest a player who is beginning to settle into a larger role. Scoring 16.3 points per game while also contributing on the glass is a strong base, and the 34.9% return from three shows there is still room for growth as a shooter.
That is what makes the ranking so interesting. Buzelis does not need to be the finished product yet. He simply needs to keep trending in the right direction, and the 2026-27 outlook suggests he has already earned that level of trust.
Ausar Thompson ahead, but the gap is still worth watching
Ausar Thompson was placed first in the Central Division small forward comparison, so the Bulls forward was not viewed as the top name in the group. Even so, the separation between the two is less important than the broader message: Buzelis is now being discussed as one of the division's key young wings.
That matters for Chicago because development at this position can shape a team's ceiling. If Buzelis continues on this path, the Bulls will have a player whose blend of size, scoring and emerging perimeter threat can become a major part of their identity.
For now, the ranking is a vote of confidence. Buzelis is already in the conversation, and the next step is turning that recognition into a bigger role and an even stronger season in 2026-27.
