DETROIT — It was almost as if Zach LaVine was playing possum, watching teammate Nikola Vučević feast on a lax Pistons defense — and then, he exploded.
There was one triple in the fourth, then another, and another, and another. You could see it in his walk, the light steps, the easy release. The only ones who didn’t seem to notice LaVine on a heater were the Pistons who were trying to reach the benchmark of .500, as a true sign of progress.
Only LaVine ruthlessly took it away with six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of the Bulls’ 122-112 win at Little Casears Arena on Monday night. He had just seven points entering the fourth, but exploded for 18, finishing with 25.
After playing just 25 games last year before right foot surgery ended his season in February, the discussion surrounding LaVine has focused more on his max contract, trade rumors and his rocky relationship with coach Billy Donovan.
In fact it was about everything but his game, and it didn’t go unnoticed.
“I heard everything,” LaVine told Yahoo Sports on Monday. “I read everything. Sometimes you have to take that responsibility and put a chip on your shoulder. There are many things that people said I had to prove. I think my resume speaks for itself, the type of player I am, the type of person I am, but it is what it is.
“You can always turn a few heads.”
LaVine smiles easily and jumps even easier, even after multiple surgeries that would diminish the athleticism of most players. But there is an advantage to him this season. He plays with more strength while also working within the scheme of Donovan’s guard-heavy roster.
Always efficient, LaVine is playing above his usual numbers, shooting 51% from the field and 43% from 3-point range (both career highs) on more than seven 3-point attempts a night, and averaging 22 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists. .
In this luxury-tax-apron world, where teams have seemingly put themselves in worse positions in terms of player movement, every dollar counts. So conversations surrounding LaVine’s acquisition often start with the five-year, $215 million deal he signed in the summer of 2022. And when players are injured, it’s easy to forget how good they are, or can be when active.
“I don’t know,” LaVine said. “It’s not for me to try to make everyone like me. I am happy for what I got, what I deserved. And some people may not feel that way and you can judge it for that. But regardless, I know who I am and what I’ve done in this league.”
It’s no secret that the Bulls shopped LaVine the past two years, and as time goes on with his deal, there’s no doubt that a better market will develop if the franchise wants to re-engage.
After next season, he will have a player option in 2026-27 for $48 million, and he can hit free agency again at age 32.
But for now, he’s a bright spot on an up-and-down Bulls team. He came into training camp about 10 pounds lighter, apparently to take pressure off his knees. He spent the summer training at The Box training center in Costa Mesa, California, where he learned, “You don’t play boxing.”
He fought Jesus Soto Karass, a former Mexican welterweight and light middleweight boxer.
“I got in the ring with him and I poked him one time too hard during one of our sparring sessions, and he kicked my ass,” LaVine said with a full laugh. “If I’m ever in the wrong situation, I can stand up for myself, but you don’t play boxing with those guys.”
It served its purpose, though, as he looks healthier and still jumpy — ready to take over those fourth quarters again. He is a long way from the two-time dunk champion; he is a more complete player on both ends, picking his spots until he can put a stamp on games.
“I’m in a good place and I feel sharp right now,” LaVine said. “To be able to be one of the veteran guys on the team and still be able to do what I do. Help win any way I can. Defense one day, facilitating whatever they require.”
The occasional defensive blunders don’t come that often, and while he didn’t advance past the first round in his career, it was more of a team-building failure than LaVine’s personal exploits.
The one time the Bulls had real hope over the past six or seven years was the short-lived period when LaVine and DeMar DeRozan were able to terrorize opponents, backed by a healthy Lonzo Ball.
LaVine gave way for DeRozan to take over fourth quarter and the two worked together easily. DeRozan had a lot of game winners, and LaVine, as the better deep shooter, could play that role. Both were All-Stars in 2022, the only year all three were healthy in the season.
“I’ve had a lot of games where I’ve had to take over, but the respect you give DeMar, you don’t want to take away from what he does best,” LaVine said. “I had to take a step back off the ball because you don’t put DeMar in the corner. It’s not going to be what’s best for him or the team. I can play with the ball.
“I saw how DeMar plays in the fourth and how he calms down. And just for me, a learning experience. I tip my hat to DeMar, I love DeMar, but there’s also a lot of work that I put into this.”
It goes back to the good place he talked about. The self-awareness of where he is, his contract, his standing in the league. He doesn’t seem stressed about the situation in Chicago, the future. LaVine also relishes the opportunity to show how his game has grown, and how it applies in a winning situation. It can be assumed that some teams are watching.
“I’ve been through ups and downs with that,” LaVine said. “I had some really good, good games, and years. I had a few times where I had some turnovers and some bad plays. And I think that’s all with the experience of being in the NBA.
“I’m in a good place and understand what the game means to me at that moment, and how to try to contribute to a win.”
