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Chicago Bulls: One big thing for Zach LaVine to avoid in 2019-20

By Luke Askew

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 17: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls drives to the basket against the Denver Nuggets on January 17, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 17: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls drives to the basket against the Denver Nuggets on January 17, 2019 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine is coming off the best season of his career. Here’s one big thing he needs to avoid in 2019-20 in order to take another step forward.

Big-time expectations can be the toughest thing for NBA players to deal with. In the modern era, it’s tough for athletes to stay off social media, meaning they see what others are saying about them. If they’re getting hated on, they can use that as motivation. But if they’re getting puffed up by fans or the media, it can be a lot of pressure to deal with.

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine is one of those guys that’s been getting puffed up this summer. Bulls fans, general NBA fans, media members – it seems like everyone is in on Zach LaVine (myself included).

We all know what LaVine has to do to live up to expectations. He needs to score the ball, lead the Bulls to some wins and show improvement on the defensive end of the court. But sometimes, what you don’t do is equally important as what you do do.

So what does LaVine need to avoid in the 2019-20 season? Stat-chasing.

For a guy who will be working to make his first All-Star team and show the world that he’s a legitimate star, stat-chasing will be a tough thing for LaVine to avoid. The difference between averaging 23 points per game and 25 points per game can be huge when it comes to All-Star voting. But LaVine needs to make sure he’s not caught up in that dangerous game.

If Zach focuses on winning – and nothing else – his numbers will come naturally. He’s the best basketball player in the city of Chicago, he’s a natural-born scorer and he’s an absolute gamer, but he needs to know when to choose his spots. He can’t fall into the trap of looking at the box score, seeing he only has 18 points, and forcing shots up to try and get himself to 25. He needs to let it come naturally.

The good news: LaVine has shown in the past that he has the wherewithal to know when he needs to take over and put the ball in the basket and when he needs to create for others. But if the expectations get on top of him, it could lead to a disappointing regression in LaVine’s overall game.

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I believe in Zach LaVine. I think he’s going to have another career year. But if he falls into the stat-chasing game, Bulls Nation (and the rest of the NBA world) will turn on him quickly. He needs to avoid that at all costs. He can’t turn into a good-stats, bad-team guy. He needs to be a winner first and foremost. That’s how he’ll earn superstar status.

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