Zach LaVine scores 26 in Bulls’ best offensive performance of the season

It served its purpose, though, as he looks healthier and still bouncy — ready to take over those fourth quarters again. He’s a long way away from the two-time dunk champion; he’s a more complete player on both ends, picking his spots until he can put a stamp on games. “I’m in a good place and I feel sharp right now,” LaVine said. “Being able to be one of the veteran guys on the team and still being able to do what I do. Help win in any way I can. Defense one day, facilitating, whatever they call for.” -via Yahoo! Sports / November 21, 2024

After playing just 25 games last year before right foot surgery ended his season in February, the discussion surrounding LaVine was more about his max contract, trade rumors and his rocky relationship with coach Billy Donovan. In fact, it was about everything but his game, and it didn’t go unnoticed. “I heard everything,” LaVine told Yahoo Sports on Monday. “I read everything. Sometimes you gotta take that accountability and put a chip on your shoulder. There’s a lot of things people said I had to prove. I think my resume speaks for itself, the type of player I am, the type of person I am, but it is what it is. “You can always turn some heads.” -via Yahoo! Sports / November 21, 2024

Always efficient, LaVine is playing above his usual numbers, shooting 51% from the field and 43% from 3-point range (both career highs) on over seven 3-point attempts a night, and averaging 22 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists. In this luxury-tax-apron world, where teams have seemingly put themselves in worse positions in terms of player movement, every dollar is counted. So conversations surrounding acquiring LaVine often start with the five-year, $215 million deal he signed in the summer of 2022. And when players are injured, it’s easy to forget how good they are, or can be when active. “I don’t know,” LaVine said. “It’s not for me to try to make everybody like me. I’m happy for what I got, what I deserved. And some people may not feel that way and you may judge it off that. But regardless, I know who I am and what I’ve done in this league.” -via Yahoo! Sports / November 21, 2024