Bulls rookie commits to NBA slam dunk contest in 2025

Chicago Bulls Rookie Matas Bouzelis will show off his jumping skills at NBA All-Star Weekend, as he pledged to participate in the dunk contest, according to ESPN’s Shams Charani.

The 20-year-old Buzelis will be the first Lithuanian player to compete in the competition. The contest will feature two first-year players: Bouzelis and San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle.

Matas Bouzelis commits to this year’s slam dunk contest

This is the second consecutive year that the event has featured multiple rookies, following 2024 appearances by Miami’s Jamie Jaquez and New York’s Jacob Taupin.

Bouzelis, selected 11th overall in the 2024 NBA draft by the Bullssaw limited playing time in his rookie season, averaging under 13 minutes per game. Even so, he is familiar with the All-Star stage, having played in the 2024 Rising Stars game as a member of a team comprised of G League standouts.

The Bulls rookie is averaging 4.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.4 assists and 0.8 blocks, while shooting 38.3% from the field. Bouzelis will become the first Bulls player to participate in the Dunk Contest since Tyrus Thomas in 2007.

Matas Bouzelis, born and raised in Illinois, comes from a family deeply rooted in sports. His parents, both professional basketball players, immigrated to the United States and settled in the Chicago area. The sports tradition of his family goes back to both grandfathers, and one grandmother excelled in handball. Buzelis has pledged to represent Lithuania by joining the Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LKF) and is expected to make his debut for the senior national team soon.

Stephon Castle, another rookie who also joined the slam dunk contest

Castle, the first player confirmed for the 2025 slam dunk contesthe will make history as the first San Antonio Spurs player to compete in the event since Greg “Cadillac” Anderson in 1988.

Stephon Castle, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, has already delivered a career-high dunk streak. In particular, he highlighted Brook Lopez’s double center defense during the Spurs’ Jan. 8 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. In addition, Castle wowed with impressive alleys, a dunk on a windmill, and several thrilling finishes in traffic.

The Spurs rookie has had a strong start to his rookie season. In 40 games, he averaged 11.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. He ranks fourth in points and third in assists among rookies, and his performance has kept the Spurs in the playoffs. The team hasn’t reached the postseason since 2019.

An NBA player hasn’t won the slam dunk contest since 2022, and G League standout Mac McClung won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.

NBA All-Star Weekend 2025 is scheduled for 14-16. February in San Francisco. All-Star Saturday night and the slam dunk contest will take place on February 15 at the home of the Golden State Warriors, the Chase Center.