Bulls’ Zach LaVine Proving the Doubters Wrong – NBC Chicago

Bulls’ Zach LaVine Proving the doubters wrong Originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

Zach LaVine was selected as one of the seven reserves for the Eastern Conference for the NBA All-Star game, marking his second consecutive selection.

LaVine is currently out of action and is set to meet a specialist in Los Angeles to get some answers on lingering soreness in his left knee.

While his status is up in the air, LaVine answered questions about the Chicago Bulls including some doubts geared towards him prior to the start of the season.

LaVine and the Bulls find themselves in a unique position. They’re second in the Eastern Conference and likely headed for a spot in the postseason. The first for LaVine since he arrived back in 2017.

“Yeah, I mean it’s good,” LaVine told me Ashish Mathur of Heavy.com. This is what I’ve always wanted, but sometimes when you’re drafted, you gotta play the cards you’re dealt. Not everybody can immediately be on a playoff team or a championship team.So all those experiences leading up to this point has helped me where I’m at today. Obviously, the team that we have around us, moving forward, I think we have a shot at competing for things that big ”

There were doubts heading into the season whether the Bulls’ signings and LaVine could play well together. It’s fair to say those doubts have been put to rest.

“I mean, you hear a lot of noise all the time,” LaVine said. “I’ve always been somebody that tries to shut people up and it’s just how it’s been. I think it gives a little extra fuel to the fire. It’s part of the game. People go out there and give their opinions and it’s up to us to go out there and tell ’em the truth on the court.

“DeMar is having an MVP-type season. People tried to write him off and this guy is a future Hall of Famer. They’re talking about there’s only one ball and Zach hasn’t won and now we’re both All-Stars “We’re No. 2 in the East right now, and the scary thing is, we aren’t even healthy. I don’t want to say it’s satisfying, but we recognize it and we put our head down and we work.”

DeRozan has been a man on a mission and has had to carry this Bulls team given the number of absences due to injury.

However, even with DeRozan taking a little more of the Spotlight, LaVine is still putting up numbers. The Bulls’ guard is averaging 24.6 points per game, 4.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

LaVine has proven they can play with the likes of DeRozan, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso. He’s willing to do more work off the ball and cede shots to his teammates if it means they’re going to win.

“I’m gonna be Zach LaVine on the court regardless, but if I can give a little bit of myself to where I can do some spacing or play off the ball and allow DeMar to be himself a little bit more or let Zo handle the ball in transition, do what he does, great, that’s gonna help us in the long term and ultimately what matters now is win. ”

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