The Chicago Bulls are on the brink of finally getting All-Star guard Zach LaVine back following a lengthy spell on the sidelines. The 26-year-old has been on the league's health and safety protocols and has been out of action over the past couple of weeks, but according to Chicago head coach Billy Donovan, LaVine should be back sooner rather than later.

Coach Donovan revealed that LaVine has actually already cleared the NBA's health and safety protocols:

“He would be available to play today, but there's just not enough time for him to get his legs back under him,” Donovan told reporters on Monday, via Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago. “We just need a little bit of a ramp-up time before he can join the team.”

The Bulls are slated to take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, and while he has been cleared to play, LaVine's lack of game fitness will force him to sit out that marquee matchup. This does not come as a surprise considering how long LaVine has been on the shelf. The last thing Chicago wants to happen right now is for their star to suffer an injury due to a lack of fitness.

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Coach Donovan did say that LaVine has been raring to go and that the 6-foot-5 combo guard has already started hitting the gym:

“I think he's excited to be back playing,” Donovan said of LaVine. “I think for him getting in the gym was good.”

The Bulls are fighting for dear life in the East as they look to work their way back to playoff contention. Time is quickly running out, so we fully expect LaVine to return to action within the next few games.