Chicago Bulls: Noting the 3 best things from the season

1. Zach LaVine’s breakout season

We knew Zach LaVine could score but did we know he could score this well?

It’s tough to shine, even under the bright lights of a big city like Chicago, when your team is just, well, bad. In the NBA, players are measured first by playoff success, then by their stats. Since LaVine hasn’t tasted the NBA playoffs in his six-year career, he’s easily overlooked by fans and media.

That might start to change soon. The Chicago Bulls guard was in the midst of his finest season yet, averaging 25.5 points per game on 45.0 percent shooting from the field, 38.0 percent from long-range. 19 times LaVine has scored 30 or more points this season, eclipsing 40 points six times.

While he didn’t earn an All-Star nod in 2020, LaVine proved to be worthy of the discussion. He might be odds with head coach Jim Boylen’s curious coaching decisions from time to time, but he’s bought in on being the team’s go-to scorer. Until Coby White’s emergence in the last nine games, LaVine was shouldering the bulk of the scoring load.

Zach LaVine continues to show he’s more than just a slam-dunk phenom as well. His field goal percentage is higher than James Harden (43.5 percent), Trae Young (43.7), Jayson Tatum (44.8) and Spencer Dinwiddie (41.5). Additionally, his 3-point shooting percentage is currently higher than Harden (35.2 percent), Bradley Beal (35.3), Devin Booker (36.0) and Trae Young (36.1).

The Chicago Bulls have a lot of work to do whenever the offseason finally begins. That said, there are some good pieces for a new front office to build around. It’s certainly hard for Bulls fans to recognize at the moment, but all is not lost in the Windy City.