Chicago Bulls: Zach LaVine has taken an All-Star leap in 2021

If his performance thus far has yet to impress even the toughest critics, it deserves to be said once more. The Chicago Bulls’ Zach LaVine is a definite 2021 NBA All-Star and could have easily snuck into the East’s starters.

Michael Jordan owns the 1st-9th highest season scoring averages for the Chicago Bulls. Yet, far removed from the days of dunk contests and Timberwolves aspirations, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine is putting together a season for the ages.

Not only is LaVine averaging 28.9 points per game but also on pace to dethrone His Airness’ 1997-98 28.7 points per game season for the Bulls’ 10th all-time season scoring average.

Chicago Bulls All-Time Points Per Game

1.  Michael Jordan (1986-87) – 37.1
2.  Michael Jordan (1987-88) – 35.0
3.  Michael Jordan (1989-90) – 33.6
4.  Michael Jordan (1992-93) – 32.6
5.  Michael Jordan (1988-89) – 32.5
6.  Michael Jordan (1990-91) – 31.5
7.  Michael Jordan (1995-96) – 30.4
8.  Michael Jordan (1991-92) – 30.1
9.  Michael Jordan (1996-97) – 29.6
10.  Zach LaVine (2020-21) – 28.9 

LaVine’s exclusion from the NBA’s 2021 All-Star starters may rub some fans the wrong way, as not only has the 7th year UCLA guard upped his scoring efficiency from the field, beyond the arc, and at the charity stripe, along with career highs of 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game on a 0.5% lower usage rate than his last season.

While the differentiation may not be huge, it speaks volumes to the ways in which Zach LaVine has risen to the occasion and pulled his team to within a half-game of the Eastern Conference’s eighth-seed.

LaVine has transformed his game substantially this season, becoming an even more reliable closer in tight games, demonstrating his much-improved shot creation and confidence in the clutch. After losing out on an All-Star bid in the 2019-20 season to guards Kemba Walker, Trae Young, Kyle Lowry, and Ben Simmons, LaVine has all-but leapfrogged his fellow players and with none of the former All-Star selections decidedly out-playing him.

Zach LaVine should without question own one of the two first available guard spots for the reserves.

With respect to Trae Young, LaVine has the Atlanta Hawks point guard bested in points, rebounds (to be expected with an off-ball role in tandem with a 4-inch height-advantage), and field goal percentage. Not to mention, Young, being notorious for his three-point shooting, trails LaVine 37 to 43 in 3-point range on two fewer attempts.

As for Lowry and Walker, who have had good and below-average seasons respectively, LaVine easily demonstrates the flashiness-factor necessary for All-Star participation that the aforementioned guards, this season, have lacked.

Simmons will almost-surely earn a spot in one of the two first available spots for the East’s reserves, but LaVine’s taking the NBA by storm thus far, combined with Joel Embiid’s inevitable vote-earning, will likely see the Bulls star earn that top reserve spot.

And at the end of the day, when one considers the high-flying, jaw-dropping style that Zach LaVine has shown the NBA in his tenure, it becomes hard to argue that his slashing, combined with his much-improved play and leadership, is anything but All-Star worthy.

LaVine’s name has become all-but synonymous with the dunk contest, and with an opportunity to turn the All-Star Game into his own personal 50-point dunk exhibition, fans should be more than exhilarated. It would be nice to put a highlight reel of LaVine’s high-flying antics to hammer-home the point, but there are hardly enough minutes in the day to effectively exhibit his almost inhuman ability to finish at the rim; but then again, why not?

Somehow still, the All-Star Game alone seems insufficient for LaVine, as he could just as easily appear in all three of All-Star weekend’s contests. It is difficult to look at LaVine’s season as a whole, shot-making in the clutch and sky-walking highlights considered, and not translate that into an All-Star bid.

With such an impressive season underway for Zach LaVine, and this year’s starting spots filled, the Chicago Bulls’ star’s eyes are undoubtedly set on moving up the ladder a few rungs come Cleveland’s 2022 All-Star Weekend.

The NBA is scheduled to announce the remaining 14 roster spots for the 2021 All-Star Game on February 23rd, with East and West Captains Kevin Durant and LeBron James picking of teams set to be televised on TNT on March 4th.