Chicago Bulls: 3 emerging stars that can help lead to the playoffs
1) Chicago Bulls players that can help push for the playoffs
Zach LaVine, Shooting Guard
By far the most important player to the success that the Bulls have found so far this season is the former UCLA Bruin and 6-foot-6 25-year-old star shooting guard Zach LaVine. The way that LaVine has put on a show of late for the Bulls is nothing short of absolutely special. He is the most valuable player to this team by a mile so far this season.
Although LaVine isn’t helping the Bulls find elevated success in the win column alone this season, it can feel like he is at times. He’s having another career year as he starts to move into what should be his prime. This could finally be the season where we see the uber-talented and athletic LaVine get his first-career NBA All-Star selection. It is well deserved at this point.
Moreover, LaVine has started in all of the two dozen games that he’s played in for the Bulls so far this season, averaging around 36 minutes on the floor per game. And he’s averaged 28.2 points per game, 5.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.5 blocks. LaVine shot an efficient 51.8 percent from the field, 42.5 percent from beyond the arc, and 86.3 percent from the free-throw line.
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That all has amounted to a career-best 3.8 box plus/minus rating, 117 offensive rating/113 defensive rating, 1.2 value over replacement player rating, .156 win shares per 48 minutes, 2.8 total win shares, 65.2 true shooting percentage, and a 22.5 player efficiency rating. Essentially all of those advanced metrics are very well on pace to be career bests for LaVine this season.