The Bulls have been doing better for a month, a period which coincided with the injury of Zach LaVine. It was enough to solidify the rumors around a possible departure of the former Wolves winger. Meanwhile, the Chicago coach, Billy Donovanis forced to play for time, and will do everything to reintegrate one of its major players in the best conditions, possibly Friday evening for the next home match against Charlotte.
The technician in any case mentioned a Zach LaVine back in shape and ready to return to the floors very quickly.
“I don’t know what the exact date will be, but the way he’s progressing at the moment, the fact that he’s now allowed contact, it’s very, very positive.”, did he declare before the game against the Sixers. “I don't know how much data the medical staff wants to collect in terms of training load similar to a match situation, but they can handle it. Everything we asked of him in terms of progression, he handled it very, very well.”
What role for his return to the game?
Sent back to the G-League to gain strength while waiting for the Bulls to return to Chicago, Zach LaVine would have taken it well. For Billy Donovan, his player would have taken this step as a lesson in humility and would be preparing to return with the desire to help the team continue its momentum.
“The progress is positive, really very good. He trained with his teammates yesterday and today, and all the feedback I've received indicates that it went very well. He reacted well when he came back and we will see how he reacts tomorrow. But with the Windy City Bulls' schedule and the fact that they're in town and able to practice, it's a good thing. With our schedule, it's hard to get him to do actual rehearsals and get him to perform for real. So it’s a good thing for him to be back on the field.”
It now remains to consider what happens next, which will certainly be dictated by his attitude when he returns to the Bulls, and the way in which the team will react to his return. Here again, Billy Donovan was confident.
“I think he was always in that mentality, to do whatever he could do to help the team. When you're not in the game, you can see the game. I think he sees how we play, what we do, and I think the thing he would want to do is come in and contribute to improve things”, continued the coach. “For me, our discussions were very, very positive. I think he wants to help the group as much as possible. I think I've said it before, I don't think there's any need for him to change his game. What matters is what he does really, really well, and see if he can bring it to us.”
| Zach LaVine | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2014-15 | MIN | 77 | 25 | 42.2 | 34.1 | 84.2 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 10.1 |
| 2015-16 | MIN | 82 | 28 | 45.2 | 38.9 | 79.3 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 14.0 |
| 2016-17 | MIN | 47 | 37 | 45.9 | 38.7 | 83.6 | 0.4 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 18.9 |
| 2017-18 | CHI | 24 | 27 | 38.3 | 34.1 | 81.3 | 0.4 | 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.2 | 16.7 |
| 2018-19 | CHI | 63 | 35 | 46.7 | 37.4 | 83.2 | 0.6 | 4.0 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 3.4 | 0.4 | 23.7 |
| 2019-20 | CHI | 60 | 35 | 45.0 | 38.0 | 80.2 | 0.7 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 25.5 |
| 2020-21 | CHI | 58 | 35 | 50.7 | 41.9 | 84.9 | 0.6 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 0.5 | 27.4 |
| 2021-22 | CHI | 67 | 35 | 47.6 | 38.9 | 85.3 | 0.3 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 24.4 |
| 2022-23 | CHI | 77 | 36 | 48.5 | 37.5 | 84.8 | 0.6 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.5 | 0.2 | 24.8 |
| 2023-24 | CHI | 18 | 35 | 44.3 | 33.6 | 86.6 | 0.3 | 4.6 | 4.9 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 21.0 |
| Total | 573 | 33 | 46.4 | 38.2 | 83.4 | 0.5 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 2.2 | 0.9 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 20.5 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
