Chicago Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine has a righteous grievance missing the 2020 All-Star Game, but now the sixth-year swingman out of UCLA is arguing he should have been a two-time All-Star by now.
Article Continues Below“I just want to be able to win. I'm a winning player. I'll do whatever it takes. I stay in the gym. I appreciate your words … I think I was an All-Star this year, I thought I had an All-Star season last year, as well. That's not going to stop me, though, from what I think I am and where I think I'll be at. You know where my mindset is. I just want to be able to win because I think everything comes with it.”
LaVine, 25, is using his perceived two-time All-Star snub to continue to motivate his strong work ethic and desire to keep improving. The two-time Slam Dunk Contest winner was traded to the Bulls in the offseason before the 2017-18 in the Jimmy Butler deal from the Minnesota Timberwolves, who had selected 6-foot-6 guard with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
During the 2019-20 season — his best yet — LaVine averaged 25.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game, shooting 45.0 percent from the field and 38.0 percent from deep. LaVine was a narrow cut from the All-Star selection process, with even Western Conference franchise Phoenix Suns' shooting guard Devin Booker making the team as an injury replacement to Portland Trail Blazers star point guard Damian Lillard for Team LeBron.
The Bulls have a new lead decision-maker in the organization's front office, with Denver Nuggets general manager Arturas Karnisovas joining the team in the past week as executive vice president of basketball operations, prompting the firing of Gar Forman and reassignment of John Paxson, two longtime Bulls executives.