“He Didn’t Watch Michael Jordan Growing Up”: NBA Fans Go Wild as Chicago Bulls Star Linked to a Move to LeBron James’ Lakers

As an NBA fan today, it’s hard not to have heard about Zach LaVine. More recently, his future with the Chicago Bulls franchise is dangling like “Damocles Sword” and the only team that has been linked to him, till now, is LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers.

Yesterday, while coming out from a party, TMZ asked him about LaVar Ball’s statement about him going to Los Angeles. It didn’t look like he was comfortable being asked these questions and hence mentioned that he and Lonzo (LaVar Ball’s son and his teammate in the Bulls) were cool. The reporter persisted with the questions though and wanted to know whether there was any good news for Lakers fans. LaVine had replied, saying, “I’ve always been a fan of the Lakers”.

This has given fire to the rumors of him signing for the Lakers after he becomes a free agent. LaVar Ball had already stated a week before that LaVine is not staying with Chicago because he feels underappreciated and overshadowed. His hurried statement here just reinforced those rumours in the minds of fans.

Fan’s reaction to him potentially joining LeBron James’ Lakers

Lakers fan are happy that they are hearing some good news, amidst a very tedious head coach race. Bulls fans, on the other hand, are obviously not that happy. These are some reactions found on NBA Twitter:

Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls

Zach LaVine has stated earlier that he was a fan of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant when he was a child. LaVine has, hence, modelled his game after him. He was drafted in 2014 by the Minnesota Timberwolves and got a place in the NBA All-Rookie second team. LaVine was traded along with Kris Dunn and the rights to Lauri Markkanen (the 7th pick in the 2017 NBA draft), to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Jimmy Butler and the rights to Justin Patton (the 16th pick in the 2017 NBA draft).

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Since then, he has been a two time All Star in 2021 and 2022. Furthermore, he averaged 27.4 and 24.4 points per game in the regular season those years. In 2020-21, he had significantly improved his field goal percentage, his three point percentage along with how many assists he provides per game.

Since DeMar DeRozan’s arrival, Zach LaVine took a more secondary role, but both of them ensured a place for Chicago Bulls in the playoffs after years of struggle.Unfortunately, they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. Nonetheless, Levine averaged 19.3 points despite all of that.

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Now, with free agency looming, he is looking for the right move. Will he stay or will he be with the Lakers next season? Only time can tell.

Source: | This article originally belongs to Essentially Sports