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Zach LaVine Makes Strong Chicago Bulls Statement Before NBA Season

Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine spoke before the NBA season.

Joey Linn

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) poses for a photo during media day.
Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) poses for a photo during media day. / Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
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The Chicago Bulls will begin their 2024-25 NBA season on Wednesday night against the New Orleans Pelicans. It will be a very new-look Bulls team taking the floor at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso each departed this summer. Agreeing to a sign and trade deal with the Sacramento Kings, DeRozan ended his three-year run in Chicago. Caruso also went to the Western Conference this offseason, landing with the OKC Thunder in a deal that sent Josh Giddey to the Bulls.

Two-time NBA All-Star Zach LaVine was not dealt this summer, as the three years remaining on his five-year, $215M deal remain a sticking point for opposing teams.

Zach LaVine
Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) goes to the basket against Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert (27) during the first half at United Center. / Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Speaking with reporters prior to Wednesday’s season opener, LaVine made a strong statement on the Bulls.

“I think everybody wants to have some little bit of a chip on their shoulder,” LaVine said. “Coming out here, everybody starts 0-0. Who’s to say we can’t come out here and surprise some people? We’ve done it in the past.”

The Bulls have very low external expectations this season after trading away DeRozan and Caruso. Fully amid a rebuild, Chicago is no longer attempting to tread water in the Eastern Conference.

While they may not have as talented of a team this season, the Bulls have a competitive group that is ready to surprise some people. LaVine will be a big part of that, as the 29-year-old guard is coming off a strong preseason in which he averaged 18.0 points in just 25 minutes per game.

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Joey Linn
JOEY LINN

Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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