Joakim Noah praises rising Bulls star Matas Buzelis' athleticism

The former Bulls center sees 'sky's the limit' for the 21-year-old forward.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Joakim Noah, the former Chicago Bulls center, has high praise for young Bulls forward Matas Buzelis, saying he hasn't "seen a white guy with bounce like that" and that the "sky's the limit" for the 21-year-old. Noah, who played for the Bulls from 2007-2016, believes Buzelis has the potential to become an All-Star but needs to focus on helping the team win games first.

Why it matters

Buzelis is seen as a key part of the Bulls' rebuilding efforts after the team traded away several of its top scorers at the trade deadline. Noah's endorsement of the young forward's talent and potential carries weight, given his own success and popularity during his time with the Bulls.

The details

Noah praised Buzelis' confidence, athleticism, and skills, saying the forward "can shoot" and "has a handle." However, Noah noted Buzelis needs to improve his decision-making and cut down on turnovers. Noah attended a recent Bulls game and was impressed by the "fighting spirit" of the team's younger players stepping up with the team's top scorers out.

  • Buzelis is in the midst of his second NBA season.

The players

Joakim Noah

A former Chicago Bulls center who was a two-time All-Star and Defensive Player of the Year during his nine seasons with the franchise.

Matas Buzelis

A 21-year-old forward for the Chicago Bulls who is seen as a rising star, averaging 15.2 points and 1.5 blocks per game.

Josh Giddey

A young Bulls player who is averaging 18.6 points per game and is part of the team's rebuilding efforts.

Billy Donovan

The current head coach of the Chicago Bulls, who previously coached Noah at the University of Florida.

LeBron James

A longtime rival of Noah's during his playing career, who is still going strong in his 23rd NBA season.

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What they’re saying

“I think he's got his own style. I think he's a confident, very confident kid. I think he has a long way to go still to be the No. 1 guy, it takes a certain personality. But I think he's confident, his athleticism for a white guy is — I haven't see a white guy with bounce like that — he's dunking on people all the time.”

— Joakim Noah, Former Chicago Bulls Center (Ahn Fire Digital)

“I can't even think of another player who reminds me of him, but he's got a handle. He can shoot. He's got to make better decisions with the ball in his hands. He turns the ball over a little bit too much. But overall, I think the sky's the limit. He's 21 years old. Can you imagine with a real work ethic, the work ethic that I hear that he has, the sky's the limit.”

— Joakim Noah, Former Chicago Bulls Center (Ahn Fire Digital)

“I can see that, I can see that happening. But I think that it takes a lot of work, and all those things happen — people always want to talk about individual accolades and getting to the All Star Game — this game is about winning. You want those things. You have to be a winner. You don't go chasing an All-Star Game. You chase wins, championships, big wins. That's what people will remember.”

— Joakim Noah, Former Chicago Bulls Center (Ahn Fire Digital)

What’s next

The Bulls will continue to build around Buzelis and Giddey as they look to return to the playoffs and contend for a championship in the coming years.

The takeaway

Joakim Noah's high praise for Matas Buzelis' athleticism and potential highlights the young forward's rising star status with the rebuilding Chicago Bulls. However, Noah emphasizes that Buzelis must focus on helping the team win games before individual accolades, underscoring the importance of team success in the NBA.