Zachary Thomas LaVine is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association.
33 Facts About Zach LaVine
2.
Zach LaVine was selected in the first round of the 2014 NBA draft with the 13th overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
3.
Zach LaVine won a gold medal on the 2020 US Olympic team in Tokyo.
4.
Zach LaVine was born in the Seattle, Washington suburb of Renton to athletic parents.
5.
Zach LaVine's father, Paul, played American football professionally in the United States Football League and National Football League, and his mother, CJ, was a softball player.
6.
Around the age of five, Zach LaVine developed an interest in basketball after watching Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan in the film Space Jam.
7.
Zach LaVine practiced playing in the family backyard, where his father had him repeatedly emulate the NBA's Three-Point Shootout.
8.
Zach LaVine attended Bothell High School in the Seattle suburb of Bothell.
9.
Zach LaVine was recognized nationally as a first-team Parade All-American.
10.
Zach LaVine played in the Ballislife All-American Game, and won the event's slam dunk contest.
11.
On June 20,2012, Zach LaVine verbally committed to attending the University of California, Los Angeles, and playing for coach Ben Howland for the 2013 season.
12.
However, he decided to remain with UCLA and their new coach, Steve Alford; Zach LaVine had inherited an affection for UCLA from his father, who grew up a fan of Bruins basketball while growing up in nearby San Bernardino, California.
13.
Zach LaVine averaged 9.4 points per game during the season, fourth best on the team, and his 48 three-point field goals made were the second most by a freshman in the school's history.
14.
However, Zach LaVine did not reach double-figures in scoring in 14 of the final 18 games, and totaled just 11 points and was 0 for 8 on three-point attempts in the final five games.
15.
Zach LaVine was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft.
16.
Zach LaVine signed his rookie scale contract with the team on July 8,2014.
17.
Zach LaVine moved back into the starting lineup after back spasms sidelined Williams, who had become the starting guard again.
18.
Zach LaVine won the Slam Dunk Contest during the 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend.
19.
Zach LaVine became the youngest champion since an 18-year-old Kobe Bryant in 1997.
20.
Zach LaVine was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
21.
Zach LaVine became the fourth player ever to win consecutive Slam Dunk Contests.
22.
On February 4,2017, Zach LaVine was ruled out for the rest of the season after an MRI revealed he had a torn ACL in his left knee.
23.
On June 22,2017, Zach LaVine was traded, along with Kris Dunn and the rights to Lauri Markkanen, to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Jimmy Butler and the rights to Justin Patton.
24.
On July 6,2018, the restricted free agent Zach LaVine received a four-year, $80 million offer sheet from the Sacramento Kings.
25.
Zach LaVine scored at least 30 points in each of the Bulls' first three games of the season, becoming the third Chicago player to do so, joining Michael Jordan and Bob Love.
26.
Zach LaVine finished with 32 points for his fourth straight 30-point game to start the season.
27.
Zach LaVine missed the end of the season with right leg injuries.
28.
Zach LaVine led the Bulls in points scored in the season with 1492 points while playing in only 63 games.
29.
Zach LaVine was the leading scorer in 42 of the 65 games played in the shortened season.
30.
Zach LaVine reached career highs in rebounds, assists, 3-point shooting, overall field goal percentage, and free throw percentage.
31.
Zach LaVine dealt with a troublesome knee during the season and missed 15 games, yet still appeared in his most games since his ACL tear in 2017.
32.
Zach LaVine started one game and was a valuable sixth man averaging 10.6 points.
33.
In March 2016, Zach LaVine guest starred in an episode of the Disney XD television series Kirby Buckets.