After Zach LaVine's stellar preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen called the swingman a “special cat.”

In 24 minutes of action, LaVine dropped 28 points and three rebounds. It's a pretty great performance considering that it's just a preseason game where most players are taking it easy. Per K.C. Johnson of NBCS Chicago, Boylen said:

“Zach’s a special cat. He’s locked in, man. He really makes it look easy at times. I’m proud of him.”

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The 2019-20 season will be Boylen's first full year as the Bulls' head coach. He'll have the chance to implement and apply his own system, as well as create a team's identity based on the pieces he's been given.

LaVine, tagged as the team's star, will be at the helm amid all of this. He's not just expected to carry the offensive load, but he's also expected to be the leader. Last year, he played 63 games for the Bulls and notched career-highs in points (23.7), rebounds (4.7), assists (4.5), and field goal percentage (46.7).

Despite this, the Bulls just won a mere 22 games. LaVine's preseason performance might be an indication that he has new tricks up his sleeve which will not just bolster his individual play but will translate into actual wins.