Zach LaVine Could Become One of the Game’s Best Shooting Guards
Zach Lavine has proven to be worth every penny of his contract, but his play this season is building evidence that the Bulls got him for a steal.
Some weren’t quite sure what the Bulls were getting in Lavine. He was an athletic player, known for his jumping ability that propelled him to 2 slam dunk championships, but when the Bulls acquired him via trade, he was recovering from a torn ACL. An injury that Bulls fans were all too familiar with, as it was the same injury that Derrick Rose suffered, and ultimately closed the door on the Bulls championship window.
Last season Lavine only suited up for 24 games, which saw plenty of up and down play, which should have been expected from a player returning from that caliber of injury.
Photo: @chicagobulls
A lot was made about Lavine’s $78 million contract, being too much for the Bulls to match for a dunker coming off an ACL tear. Lavine heard all of the naysayers, and during the offseason, he trained with the intention to prove all the doubters wrong, to prove that he could be the #1 option and the face of the franchise. Lavine has proven that he is much more than a dunker. He drives to the basketball aggressively, hellbent on the intent of finishing with an array of dunks, acrobatic layups, and floaters, as well as a deadly stroke from behind the line.
Zach is shooting 47% from the field and 38% from beyond the arc. Zach is tied for the 3rd most points since the All-Star Break, ranks in the top 10 of clutch scoring, and he’s averaging career highs in points(23.8), assists(4.5) and rebs(4.7). Zach has also put together 30 games this season with 25+ points, making him one of only 4 Bulls to reach that total since the 99-00 season.
Photo: @clutchpoints
Lavine has not only be the Bulls best scorer, but he’s also been their best playmaker. So much so that the idea of pulling Zach at the point guard spot(ala James Harden). Speaking of Harden, he has become one of the NBA’s top shooting guards, with his ability to get to the line and knock down tough shots, and ability that Lavine also possesses. Harden like Lavine has also been knocked for his like of defense, but this season his saw Lavine also improve his efforts on that side of the ball as well. Lavine who just turned 24 years old, was left off ESPN’s Top 25 players under 25 years old. Don’t be surprised if Lavine uses that exclusion as motivation to improve his game further.
Photo: @chicagobulls
It’s not hard to fathom that as Zach’s game continues to mature, he will be in the discussion for a top 2 guard in the East, but he could also be discussed as a top 2 guard in the NBA. Which would make $78 million a steal for one of the best young players at his position.
Photos: @chicagobulls, @clutchpoints
Discover more from Chicago Sports Nation
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.