NBA: 10 candidates for a bounce-back season in 2018-19
3. Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls
After a four-year, $78 million payday this summer, Zach LaVine has a lot to prove for an inexperienced Chicago Bulls team that needs another go-to scorer to take the pressure off second year big man Lauri Markkanen.
Step one is shaking off the rust he showed last year. Though LaVine averaged 16.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, they came on 38.3 percent shooting from the floor and 34.1 percent shooting from 3-point range. Either way, it was a far cry from the 18.9 points per game on .459/.387/.836 shooting splits he posted the year before.
More. 10 candidates for breakout seasons in 2018-19. light
After only playing in 24 games for the Bulls, LaVine will be paid like a franchise player, and the opportunities will certainly be there for him to look like one. Though he’s flawed defensively, his game has always been deeper than the surface level “Slam Dunk Contest champ” label. Now this 23-year-old gets the chance to prove it in a major NBA market.