Chicago Bulls: One area every starter can improve in 2018-2019
By Ryan Heckman
Shooting Guard Zach LaVine
Area of improvement: Leadership
Look, we know LaVine is also a young guy. The Bulls have plenty of youth on their roster. But, this team is starving for a leader. Since the departure of guys like Jimmy Butler, Dwyane Wade and even Derrick Rose a few years back, this franchise has not had a player within the last year who can be “the man,” so to speak.
LaVine comes into this season having signed a new contract extension. He’s going to be around for a while. While the front office wants you to think that they are building around second-year forward Lauri Markkanen, this is LaVine’s team.
He’s the guy they committed to long-term. He’s the centerpiece they returned in the Butler trade. He’s the two-time Slam Dunk Champion. He’s the above-the-rim, high-flying wing who’s on a mission he can score and defend equally as effective.
Zach LaVine on his role: "Come in, be a leader of the team, lead by example. And be one of the go-to guys."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) September 24, 2018
This season, I am looking for a higher level of leadership out of LaVine. He’s had a full offseason of healthy workouts. He’s been around his teammates a little while now. This is, again, a young team. With Markkanen out a couple of months, LaVine has even more of an opportunity to lead his guys on and off the court.
Obviously, we want to see his numbers go up offensively. He has to score at a better rate. He also needs to prove he can defend, which we’re already seeing this preseason. But, above all else, LaVine has to establish himself the leader of this locker room.