Matas Buzelis talks about Billy Donovan as Bulls officially eliminated

OKLAHOMA CITY – Matas Buzelis doesn’t know how the story will end.

Not his or that of Bulls coach Billy Donovan.

What the second year forward could present as his truth is he would not be the player he was – or on his way to becoming – if it wasn’t for Donovan’s guidance. So the idea that the Sun-Times reported earlier this week that there was growing momentum around the coach possibly wrapping up his stay with the Bulls, well, not the type of news Buzelis wanted to embrace.

“He’s been everything, man,” Buzelis said of Donovan. “He’s been a role model to me, he’s someone I look up to as a person, as a human being. He’s a guy that’s been a cornerstone for me. He’s pushed me to my limits and he’s going to keep pushing me until I can’t be pushed anymore. I can’t thank somebody like that enough. He tells you the truth every time. It’s hard to do that, especially in this league, to have someone in your corner that is going to tell you everything you need to hear.”

Donovan addressed the report on Wednesday, and all he would say, and more than once, was he was looking forward to sitting down with both ownership and the front office at the end of the season to get a grasp on the plan moving forward to turn this around and start winning.

As far as Buzelis was concerned, Donovan was by far the best qualified to coach that turnaround, especially as far as how Buzelis prefers to be coached. From Day 1 as a rookie, Donovan has handed him nothing. Minutes have been earned, not gifted, and the hook has been a quick one at times.

“This might sound like crazy but it’s the truth, he’s teaching me how to be a winning player, and I know everyone will say, ‘Well, you’re not winning a lot of games,’ but he’s taught me the characteristics it takes to win and that’s all you can ask for,” Buzelis said. “Even when he’s sat me down after a few minutes (into a game), that’s just about telling me what I have to do, what I need to do to be better at it, and a guy like me I know my time will come.”

Just not against the defending NBA Champions on Friday. While the Bulls (29-44) put up a fight for almost three quarters, the talent deficit flexed its muscles going into the final stanza. And with the 131-113 loss, Donovan’s crew was officially eliminated from even reaching play-in status this season.

What Donovan liked against the Thunder – and hopes to see moving forward over the final weeks – is a roster that doesn’t quit until the horn of the final game sounds.

“It comes down to how professional you are, and how important these games are,” Donovan said. “How do you internally look at that. I do think a lot of that speaks to character quite honestly. I think we have a bunch of good guys in that locker room, and I would bet on them that they would go out there and put their best foot forward, try and do the best they can. The competitive character reveals itself.”

It did for Oklahoma City as they overcame a nine-point deficit and pulled away in the fourth by starting off that final quarter with a 19-6 run.

The Bulls were led by Collin Sexton’s 22 points, while Buzelis finished with 15.

“I’m going to keep grinding, keep trying to push everybody,” Buzelis said of the final nine remaining games. “We’re not just going to bull(bleep) these next few games we have left. We’re going to try and learn, I’m going to continue to try and learn, and that’s it.”