Bruins in the NBA Zach LaVine can straight get buckets

Zach LaVine is one of the many UCLA Bruins over the years who were one and done with the team. He had a decent season in his one year with Westwood but not earth shattering. Similar to what we wrote about Jrue Holiday, LaVine was simply NBA ready and just needed to finish his gap year.

LaVine was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the lottery in the 2014 NBA Draft at pick 13. He hit the ground running showing his scoring ability and being able to space the floor. He has been able to carve out a great NBA career by being a straight bucket getter. LaVine can flat out score the basketball and light the stat sheet up.

LaVine is also a very good dunker even in the midst of his career after his torn ACL. He is a two-time slam dunk champion, most notably his face off matchups against Aaron Gordon. Putting together one of the best dunk contests ever that breathed life back into the event that had viewership down for years.

LaVine would spend three seasons with the Timberwolves before being dealt to the Chicago Bulls in a blockbuster deal. The Bulls gave him the opportunity to be the number one option, and he ran with it. He could score at every level and in his eight years there he averaged 24.2 points per game. He did that on 47.4/39/83.4 shooting splits which are phenomenal.

When the Bulls decided to tear their team down, they engaged in another blockbuster deal and sent LaVine to the Kings. Again, LaVine just continues to score and provides that dynamic to the Kings along with another ex-Bull in DeMar DeRozan. They are a high scoring tandem and always at the top of the scoring leaders in the backcourt together.

But the weakness has always been defense. LaVine struggles on that end. He has great athleticism and can clog lanes with his length or steal or block shots. But he won’t win many one-on-one matchups if you need him to shut someone down. Offense though he will give you the best of the best each and every night.