When Chicago Bulls rookie Matas Buzelis made his debut Saturday in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest during All-Star weekend in San Francisco, the pressure was a little different.

Matas Buzelis is developing nicely in his rookie year with the Chicago Bulls. Ben Pfeifer breaks down how he excels and where he can grow.

Bulls rookie forward Matas Buzelis is replacing Pelicans rookie Yves Missi in Friday night's 2025 NBA Rising Stars at All-Star Weekend.

In what has long been the hallmark event of the NBA All-Star weekend, Chicago Bulls rookie and Chicago-area native Matas Buzelis will get the chance to showcase his skills in the 2025 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest.

Growing up in a family of professional basketball players, Buzelis was taught early that there were no shortcuts — lessons that helped prepare him for his rookie season with the Bulls and coach Billy Donovan.

Buzelis has had some emphatic dunks this year, but Mac McClung will not be going down without a fight. He doesn't even play in the NBA, but his hops and his ability to dunk the basketball are unreal. If someone that isn't in the league gets invited and continues to win the contest, you know they are impressive.

Buzelis was selected as a replacement player for the 2025 Castrol Rising Stars competition that begins Friday. The Bulls rookie is already competing in the 2025 NBA Dunk Contest,

Matas Buzelis #14 of the Chicago Bulls dunks the ball during the 2025 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest as part of the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at Chase Center on February 15, 2025 in San Francisco, California.