DETROIT — It was almost as if Zach LaVine was playing possum, watching teammate Nikola Vučević feast on the Pistons’ lax defense — and then he exploded.
It was one triple in the fourth, then another, and another, and another. It was seen in his walk, light steps, easy relaxation. The only ones who didn’t seem to notice LaVine on the heater were the Pistons, who were trying to hit the .500 benchmark, which was a real show of progress.
Len LaVine made it merciless with six 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of the Bulls’ 122-112 victory at Little Casears Arena on Monday night. He had just seven points going into fourth place, but he shot 18 and finished with 25.
After playing in just 25 games last year before right foot surgery ended his season in February, the talk surrounding LaVine has focused more on his max contract, trade rumors and his rocky relationship with coach Billy Donovan.
In fact, it was 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 responsibility and put a chip on your shoulder. There are a lot of things that people have said I have to prove. I think my resume speaks for itself, what kind of player I am, what kind of person I am, but it is so.
“You can always turn some heads.”
LaVine smiles easily and jumps even easier, even after multiple surgeries that would undermine most players’ athleticism. This season, however, he has an advantage. He plays with more power while also working within the scheme of Donovan’s guard-heavy lineup.
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 world of luxury taxes and an apron where teams have seemingly been put in worse positions when it comes to player movement, every dollar counts. So the talk of acquiring LaVine often starts 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 they’re active.
“I don’t know,” LaVine said. “It’s not up to 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 accordingly. But regardless, I know who I am and what I’ve done in this league.”
It’s no secret that the Bulls have been shopping LaVine for the past few years, and as time progresses with his trade, there’s no doubt that a better market will be created if the franchise wants to re-engage.
He will have a player option for 2026-27 for $48 million after next season and can hit free agency again at age 32.
But for now, he is a bright spot on the Bulls team. He came into training camp about 10 pounds lighter, ostensibly to reduce stress on his knees. He spent his summer training at The Box Training Center in Costa Mesa, California, where he learned, “You don’t box.
He fought Jesus Soto Karasso, a former Mexican welterweight and light middleweight boxer.
“I got in the ring with him and one time during one of our sparring sessions I hit him too hard and he beat my ass,” LaVine said with a hearty laugh. “If I ever find myself in a bad situation, I can fight back, but these guys are no match for boxing.”
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But it served its purpose as he looks healthier and still jumping – ready to take on those fourths again. He is far from a two-time dunk champion; is a more complete player at both ends, picking his spots until he can put his stamp on games.
“I’m in a good place and I’m feeling sharp right now,” LaVine said. “Being one of the veterans on the team and still doing what I’m doing. Help win in any way you can. Defense one day, facilitation, whatever they call it.”
The occasional defensive lapse doesn’t come that often, and even if he didn’t advance past the first round in his career, it was more of a team-building failure than LaVine’s personal missteps.
The only time the Bulls had any real hope in the last six or seven years was a short period when LaVine and DeMar DeRozan could terrorize opponents, boosted by a healthy Lonzo Ball.
LaVine left room for DeRozan to take over in fourth quarters and the two worked together with ease. DeRozan had a number of game winners and LaVine, as a better shooter, could play that role. Both were All-Stars in 2022, the only year all three were healthy entering 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 from the ball because you don’t corner DeMar. It won’t be the best for him or the team. I can play the ball.
“I saw how DeMar played in the fourth and how he calmed down. And a learning experience for me. Hats off to DeMar, I love DeMar, but I put a lot of work into it as well.”
He goes back to the good place he talked about. Confidence about where he is, about his contract, about his position 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 can be used in a winning situation. It’s safe to assume that a handful of teams are watching.
“I’ve been through ups and downs with it,” LaVine said. “I played really good, good games and years. I’ve had a few instances where I’ve had turnovers and some bad matches. And I think that’s it with the experience of being in the NBA.
“I’m in a good position and I understand what the game means for me at that time and how to try to contribute to the win.”