NBA: 10 candidates for breakout seasons in 2018-19
5. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls
Like Tobias Harris, Zach LaVine seems like an iffy breakout candidate since just two years ago, he posted a 19-3-3 stat line on .459/.387/.836 shooting splits. With that being said, his ACL tear, ensuing statistical nosedive and the fact that those career-best numbers came for a 31-win Minnesota Timberwolves team, it’s fair to say a real breakthrough is still pending.
To be fair, this young Chicago Bulls team might not even reach 30 wins in the upcoming season, but this is LaVine’s chance to shake off the rust, establish himself as the team’s go-to scorer and prove all the critics of his $78 million payday wrong.
Last year, Lavine averaged 16.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, but they came on putrid .383/.341/.813 shooting splits. Even with Jabari Parker and Lauri Markkanen to feed, isn’t it possible a healthier, more efficient LaVine easily posts career-high numbers across the board?