The Chicago Bulls began their new season with their opening practice on Tuesday—so many stories to write about and so many names to highlight. In the shadow of a select few, Matas Buzelis still stands tall.

He is entering his 3rd season in Chicago with a renewed focus. He is also playing under new head coach Tiago Splitter. After practice, Splitter said what he would like to see from Buzelis this season, per Will Gottlieb of CHGO_Bulls.

More than anything, he wants Buzelis to shoot from long range instead of mid-range.

“I like good threes,” Splitter said. “If he's forcing trees, that's not a good thing. I don't think he cannot shoot mid-range. That's not how I see it. Sometimes the mid-range is a bad shot for that specific play. He's just gonna be smart.”

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Over his career, Buzelis has prioritized shooting the 3-pointer more often. He's also said he will look to shoot from mid-range more often this season. Last year, Buzelis shot 36.1% from 3-point range and 45.4% from the field. He also played in 77 games and averaged 16.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Additionally, Buzelis has been building his physique during the offseason to become a much stronger player. Since coming to Chicago, Buzelis has become known for being an explosive talent.

Combined with Caleb Wilson and Josh Giddey, he could form a trifecta of athleticism and versatility this season.

The Bulls begin their preseason against the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 7. Their regular-season opener is Oct. 21 on the road against the Toronto Raptors.