Chicago Bulls: Zach LaVine’s net rating just keeps getting better
Although the Chicago Bulls added a lot of talent by way of free agency this summer, there will still be a large reliance on star shooting guard Zach LaVine heading into next season. It’s not likely to change that the Bulls use LaVine as the main source of offense and the primary initiator next season, despite the additions of DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic since the trade deadline back on March 25.
LaVine was a first-time All-Star selection this year, and looks to continue his ascent to potentially even superstar heights. One of the best parts about LaVine’s game in the past few years is the fact that he’s still improving significantly year in and year out at the age of 26.
Yet, one of the biggest knocks on LaVine tends to be the fact that he’s never really played for a winning team. When LaVine played for the United States men’s basketball team in the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, in the past month, it was one of the most sustained winning efforts he’s ever been a part of.
In fact, the United States winning at least four straight games in the quest to win the Gold Medal was the first time that LaVine was a part of that level of winning streak in more than a half decade.
There are indicators, though, that this could be a special season for LaVine in terms of success in the win column.
Chicago Bulls have to be encouraged about Zach LaVine’s improving net rating
A key trend in LaVine’s stat line both in his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Bulls was the uptick in net rating per 100 possessions on the court. LaVine continually improved in each of his three seasons with the Timberwolves in terms of net rating. But the Timberwolves dealt him to the Bulls prior to ever actually achieving a positive net rating for an entire season.
LaVine’s net rating in his first season with the Bulls was the second-lowest of any year of his career, only behind his rookie campaign with the Timberwolves. But the same trend continued with the Bulls for LaVine’s net rating that did with the Timberwolves.
The net rating LaVine posted in each of the past three seasons with the Bulls only improved. In fact, his net rating on the court per 100 possessions last season with the Bulls of -0.5 was a career-best for LaVine.
This upcoming regular season will be the first one that LaVine was truly knocking on the door of achieving a positive net rating, thus more potential sustained winning efforts. Not only is LaVine trending up in net rating as time moves along with the Bulls, the supporting cast he has heading into next season is much more capable than any other one he’s played with in his career to date.
There’s a great chance that LaVine will achieve a positive net rating with the Bulls during the 2021-22 season for the first time in his career. That should also be enough to finally get LaVine and the Bulls over that elusive postseason hump.
LaVine has never made the playoffs in his career to date, and the Bulls are currently riding a four-year-long postseason drought.
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The Bulls finished up last season with a record of 31-41 in the first year under head coach Billy Donovan. That put them just shy of making it into the play-in tournament. LaVine and the Bulls are now set to open up the 2021-22 regular season slate on the road on Oct. 20 against the Detroit Pistons.