Why Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine can win MVP: Billy Donovan still using him as primary initiator
A potential reason why LaVine was going to have a tough time getting his second consecutive All-Star nod this season was all of the other high-usage that the front office brought into the mix since the trade deadline last season. Adding the likes of star shooting guard/forward DeMar DeRozan, point guard Lonzo Ball, and center Nikola Vucevic, since the deadline last season added a lot of other mouths to feed on offense for the Bulls during the 2021-22 campaign.
But Donovan and his staff still look to be intent on getting LaVine most of the touches on offense. There will be times where it makes more sense to have someone like DeRozan or Vucevic get more shots than LaVine.
The fact of the matter is, though, that the Bulls still have their best scoring option in LaVine. And the former UCLA Bruins star guard is proving out of the gates this season that he’s showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
So far this season, LaVine has averaged around 26 points per game, five rebounds, five assists, 0.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks. And he’s shot 50 percent from the field, 44 percent from beyond the arc, and 95 percent from the free-throw line.
The usage hasn’t dropped off a whole lot for LaVine out of the gates this season compared to the last few years in Chicago either. So far this season, he’s registered a usage rate at 30.1 percent. That is still one of the highest usage rates of any stars in the East so far this season. And it’s only a one percent drop from last season.
High volume scoring, combined with efficient numbers, could make for a potent season for LaVine in terms of getting another All-Star selection and his first career All-NBA Team honors. He’s registered a career-best 24.9 player efficiency rating, 3.3 box plus/minus, and .229 win shares per 48 minutes through four games this season.