7. DeMar DeRozan & Zach LaVine (2021-22)
It’s been a long time since Bulls fans have had a truly great duo to cheer for, so thankfully we witnessed a long streak of talentless teams end in 2021-22 after the addition of free agent DeMar DeRozan. Together with Zach LaVine, the Bulls looked re-energized and dangerous for the first time in a very long time.
In just their first season together, the pairing averaged 52.3 points per game (46.9% of the team’s offensive production). They propelled the Bulls to a 26-10 record to start the year and even held the top seed in the Eastern Conference for some time before faltering down the stretch. Both players would earn All-Star selections in 2022 and would have likely done so again in 2023 if LaVine’s injury didn’t cause him to get off to a slow start.
Despite having relatively redundant skill sets, at least compared to the other duos on this list, DeRozan and LaVine have found a way to make things work in Chicago. Surprisingly enough, it looks like they’re just getting started. Although the 2022-23 season didn’t yield the same level of team success, this duo has looked just as good in their second run together.
Although their raw numbers have taken a slight dip this past season, Zach and DeMar have clearly adapted to playing with their teammates better this time around. Not having a true point guard around for over a year now has significantly hurt their production, but we’re finally seen what these two are capable of when everything is firing on all cylinders this time around.
It’s unclear what legacy these two will leave behind just yet, but their talent is undeniable and they deserve to be remembered as an important chapter of Chicago Bulls basketball in the 2020s.