Zach LaVine explains habit of using the "Pinoy Step" move

Zach LaVine's unique move has made him nearly unstoppable on his drives to the basket.

© Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

It took a while for Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine to hit his stride after coming back from knee surgery in the offseason, and it showed as the athletic wingman struggled with finishing at the rim, making just 59% of his shots there during November of 2022. Without the usual pep in his step, LaVine knew he had to innovate a bit to be more successful with his drives. Enter the "Pinoy Step."

"It's a good little trick," said LaVine.

Got him. pic.twitter.com/I6C4IDfNna

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 7, 2023

What is the "Pinoy Step"

Essentially, the "Pinoy Step" is a move popular in the Philippines that involves adding a shot fake at the start of a drive to the basket. It's a shifty move that, when used correctly, throws off the defender's timing and opens a clear path to the rim.

"It started in the beginning of the year, when I didn't have my athleticism, I had to find a way to finish around the rim against big guys," LaVine said. "So throwing fake passes, ball fakes and messing the defender's timing up essentially."

LaVine said the move came about with the help of his trainers Drew Hanlen and Jordan Lawley.

"A couple of my trainers, Drew Hanlen was helping me out with ball fakes and pump fakes in the paint. Jordan Lawley, one of the other guys I work with was helping me with ball fakes and euro steps. I kinda added all three of those things together and made a move," explained LaVine.

"It slows you down to be able to read the defense instead of just, when you get there, jumping in the air and the defender being able to time it," he said.

The move is catching on

The move is slowly catching on in the Association, with the Indiana Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton incorporating it into his arsenal. He credited LaVine for the move in a recent appearance on JJ Redick's podcast.

"Zach LaVine, he does it all the time. He doesn't even do it for lobs. He does it to throw off your timing so he can get fouled and get to the free-throw line," shared Haliburton.