Chicago Bulls Guard Zach LaVine set for Another Step Forward, Reason No. 2: Team USA
Unlike years prior, LaVine is spending this offseason playing with and against some of the best players in the entire world. On Team USA Basketball, LaVine is working every day with some of the best players in the world in addition to playing against opponents that are some of the best in the world.
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His Team USA teammates include Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard and Draymond Green. The list goes on and on for Team USA talent, and there is no doubt a ton LaVine can soak up from his USA teammates.
That’s without mentioning the coaching staff leading the way for Team USA. With Gregg Popovich leading the way, the staff also includes highly regarded coaches such as Golden State Warriors head coach and former Bull Steve Kerr.
LaVine barely got any time to adjust to playing alongside another all-star after the team added Nikola Vucevic at the NBA trade deadline. Now, he can get a much better feel for playing with elite talent and can work on his game playing off of the ball.
That is going to be huge for his game. Since joining the Bulls, he has never really been able to do his thing off-ball without the defense being able to keep their focus on him. This will be a great way for him to hit the floor running next season in terms of getting himself good looks by moving off-ball.
Not only is there an opportunity to learn from those guys and how they approach things, there is also a lot to be learned from how they make decisions and lead the group. It’s not very often a player gets to spend so much time around elite talent and elite offensive minds.
We know LaVine loves to take steps forward in the offseason, and if he capitalizes on this offseason he could take huge steps forward in areas like his approach, basketball IQ and leadership.