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If you weren't aware of the NBA history that was made tonight, Chicago Bulls shooting guard Zach LaVine put on an absolute scoring clinic in the first half of tonight's game versus the Atlanta Hawks, dropping 39 points on 13/19 FG and 7/9 from three.
Though he would cool off in the second half (11 points) en route to a heartbreaking 108-120 loss, LaVine still walked away with a clean 50 point evening, his career-high.
Not only did the Bulls need every single one of those 50 points to even keep the game close, but LaVine also planted his flag in NBA history (third highest-scoring half in 25 years) and, just as notably, in Bulls history. With his 50 points, LaVine became just the third player since the Jordan era to reach that hallowed mark:
Zach LaVine tonight:
50 PTS (career-high)
8 REB
7 3PT
18-31 FGHe joins Jimmy Butler (2x) and Jamal Crawford as the only Bulls players to put up 50 since the Jordan era. pic.twitter.com/H56p41pZfw
— StatMuse (@statmuse) April 10, 2021
Like Jimmy Butler and Jamal Crawford before him, LaVine has only been in Chicago for a few years, with much less time than Jordan to accumulate a collection of 50 point evenings in the red, white, and black:
Zach LaVine becomes 5th Bull in franchise history to score 50 or more points in a game.
Michael Jordan (38 times)
Jimmy Butler (2 times)
Chet Walker (1 time)
Jamal Crawford (1 time)— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) April 10, 2021
A notable, and tragic absence from that list is Derrick Rose, who became the Bulls' first MVP since Michael Jordan, and the youngest MVP in NBA history. Sadly, injuries cut his time with the team short. Crawford and Butler were shipped out in their own due time as well. Chet Walker only spent six seasons with the team.
With any luck, LaVine might just be the one to recapture that winning magic with Chicago. Aside from Michael Jordan, no other primary scorer has managed to find their home in the Windy City, and the fans are clamoring for someone to put their arms around. With more nights like these, and maybe another All-Star berth or two, Zach LaVine could be on his way to establishing himself as a Bulls legend. Here's hoping that he doesn't just enjoy his career night, but uses it as a springboard to be the basketball hero Chicago is craving.
