A big year so far for the Chicago Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine should be more than enough to make him an All-Star selection.
A big night for the Chicago Bulls 24-year-old shooting guard Zach LaVine went all for naught in an eventual loss to the Boston Celtics at home at the United Center on Jan. 4 by the final score of 111-104. LaVine posted a game-high 35 points to go along with four steals, three assists, two rebounds, and not turnovers in this loss to the Celtics.
It was clear that LaVine did his part to get the Bulls the win over the Celtics. But that’s just not the way the cookie crumbles for this Bulls team of late. LaVine and power forward Lauri Markkanen played much better throughout the last 20 games than they did through the first 16. Lauri really got off to a slow start, and looked to hurt himself in the loss to the Celtics. But he was playing much better of late.
Moreover, that improved play from LaVine got him to the point where he is actually averaging more points per game than he did last season. LaVine is now averaging 23.8 points per game, 4.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.4 steals. His defense is improving this season too. LaVine has already posted a career high 1.5 defensive win shares and 107 defensive rating.
For the first time in his career, LaVine looks to be more than a defensive liability. There are times where LaVine is making a positive impact on that end of the floor. But he still needs to make strides this season to at least get his defensive box plus/minus rating in the positive (currently -0.7).
LaVine is also pretty easily on pace to post career bests in total win shares and win shares per 48 minutes. He’s sitting just shy of .100 win shares per 48 minutes and already has 2.4 win shares on the season so far (three is his career-high).
Maybe the most important factors to LaVine getting his first career NBA All-Sstar selection this year are the fact that it will be hosted at the United Center in Chicago and that he’s getting more notoriety for his role on this team. The Bulls are at least sitting within striking distance of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, so LaVine is getting more credit for effectively producing with a high usage rate of more than 30 percent.
The nearly 24 points per game that LaVine is posting this season also puts him at No. 16 in the NBA. Given the fact that he’s about the best hometown NBA All-Star selection possible this season, that should easily get him into the reserve status.
In the first update of All-Star fan voting, LaVine ranked just below the former Bulls superstar point guard Derrick Rose in the top five among East guards. The top three are all guards that will hard to pass in the fan voting, though.
Seeing D-Rose and LaVine take the floor together in an All-Star Weekend in Chicago would be tremendous. D-Rose is having himself a season worthy of Sixth Man of the Year honors. Both are improving this season compared to the last two, and thriving in their own respective roles.
However, the case for LaVine to get into the All-Star Game is clear. He is improving his play when it is most needed, and he’s putting up the scoring numbers and better two-way play to gain the attention of the voters. Most of all, he could be the potential rising star that keeps Bulls fans hopeful from this season on.
Keep posting performances like LaVine did against the Celtics, where he was the best scorer out on the floor the entire night, and he’ll be an All-Star selection in no time. LaVine is the best chance the Bulls have at an All-Star selection since Jimmy Butler back in 2017.