Zach LaVine May Want To Be A Superstar … But It Takes A Lot More Than Want

Last night, Zach LaVine put on his cape and tried to fly.

As the final seconds ticked off the clock with the Toronto Raptors up 93-92, the Bulls best scorer drove into the paint and went for the win. And then he hit a wall, missed the shot, and lost the game.

LaVine is not an NBA superhero – not yet, anyway – but he sure does try to play one on TV.

It’s hard to blame the guy. The Chicago Bulls are off to an 8-17 start and have him to thank for staying alive in the several games they did win this season. Indeed, he’s often the only hope. Yet while the Bulls view him as their winning player, it’s hard to say he’s lived up to that role. Even if he wants it more than anything.

“I don’t work my ass off to be a No. 2 guy or a No. 3 guy. I want to be a superstar,” LaVine said after the game (via The Athletic). “I want to be a top of the league type dude. And that’s what I see myself as. And I’m going to continue to strive for that and reach for my goals. That’s why I work so hard for it. I don’t sacrifice my entire summer and grind my life away to be just a regular guy in the NBA.”

Someone change my Facebook relationship status with Zach LaVine to “it’s complicated.”

On one end of the spectrum, I love hearing him talk this way. He’s honest about his intentions, and to his credit, he does appear to work his tail off to be in elite physical shape. A true star is confident, hard-working, and (normally) outspoken – LaVine demonstrates all of these traits.

On the other end, however, wanting to be a superstar and playing like a superstar are two incredibly different things (Michael: Hell, I wanna be a superstar). LaVine sounds like a five-star high school prospect with sights set on the league. Instead, he’s a six-year veteran who still hasn’t experienced a single winning season. But I digress. For LaVine to reach superstar status, he simply must execute in crunch time more consistently than he has this season (let alone for his career). Over just this last week alone, we’ve seen him choose the heroic play over the right play – and, obviously, it hasn’t exactly worked.

Against the Golden State Warriors, he waved off the Wendell Carter Jr. screen for a missed iso 3-point attempt. Last night, he chose to shoot over the double-team instead of opting for a better shot attempt from Daniel Gafford, Tomas Satoransky, or Denzel Valentine. A real NBA superstar doesn’t drain that basket, he finds the open man and grabs the winning assist.

Only one night prior, LaVine observed this exact superstar moment. Jimmy Butler drove to the hoop, got the double team, and passed out to a wide-open Tyler Herro for a game-tying bucket near the end of regulation.

And just for the sake of making a Michael Jordan reference (one should never pass up an opportunity), what did the GOAT do in Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals? He passed the ball to an open Stever Kerr on the biggest stage under the brightest lights.

Back to the present, look at LeBron James, who is averaging 10.8 assists per game this year, the most in his career by far because he knows Anthony Davis is the Lakers’ key to success. Heck, we can even throw Chris Paul pointing out an untucked jersey on Jordan Bell to draw a technical foul with 1.1 seconds remaining for game-tying free throws as an example. Frustrating, but smart.

It sounds silly, but winning players make winning plays. LaVine hasn’t been at the end of winning anything, which is why it’s hard to criticize him strongly for not knowing better. Plus, it doesn’t help that his head coach is in the same boat.

LaVine falling victim to the common misconception that superstar players always hit the game-winning shot. Sometimes, they do, just look at LaVine’s historic performance earlier this season against the Charlotte Hornets. When that shot isn’t there though, they find another way to get the job done, and that’s the part LaVine must learn if he wants to reach the superstar level he clearly desires.

(Photo by Getty Images)

written by

Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.

more bulls news

Enhanced Box Score: Bulls 125, Pacers 99 – March 27, 2024

I got to be honest, I'm even more upset about the Washington Wizards' loss. If the Chicago Bulls played like they did tonight, they would have beaten that depleted Wizards team by 40. This was a locked-in group from the...

Javonte Green Makes Bulls Return… Immediately Does Awesome Stuff

Javonte Green has officially made his Chicago Bulls debut ... again. The 30-year-old signed with the organization via a 10-day hardship deal on March 22. Injuries to Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, Patrick Williams, and Julian Phillips paved the way for...

WATCH: Alex Caruso Snatches Rookie Ben Sheppard’s Ankles

Alex Caruso will always be known for his defense capabilities, but he's showing a lot more than that this season. The veteran guard is averaging double-digit points for the first time in his career. A big part of that has...

Draymond Green Ejected Less Than 4 Minutes Into Game Against Orlando

Draymond Green was at it again on Wednesday night. Out East to take on the Orlando Magic, the Golden State Warriors watched Paolo Banchero bulldoze Andrew Wiggins to the rim early in the first quarter. As Banchero high-fived his teammates...

Pre-Gamin’: Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls (7:00 CT), Projected Lineups, How to Watch, More

Everything was awful on Tuesday. Be Better. https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1772971933161705610?s=20 Game Info Indiana Pacers (41-32) at Chicago Bulls (34-38) – 7:00 p.m. CT on NBC Sports Chicago (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio) Projected Starting Lineups Chicago Bulls Coby White Alex Caruso Ayo Dosunmu...

Around the Association: Caitlin Clark Gets Big(3) Offer, Knicks Getting Help, Lakers OT Thriller, More

It's hard to believe we have less than three weeks remaining in the NBA's regular season, and we should be in for some real drama down the stretch. The Knicks have plenty to play for in their remaining 11 games...

WHOA: NCAA Looking to Ban Prop Betting on All College Athletes

As the NCAA men's basketball tournament gears up for the Sweet Sixteen, the college sports world received some big news. On Wednesday morning, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that NCAA president Charlie Baker wants to officially ban prop betting on college...

NBA Playoffs Update: Several Races Are Still Undecided

The NBA season is winding down. We have some awesome races for the NBA Playoffs to keep an eye on in the final 2+ weeks of the season. The top seed in the West is still up for grabs in...

Alex Caruso’s Status in Question for Matchup with Pacers

The Chicago Bulls might be without their best defensive player against the best offensive team in the NBA. Not great! The latest injury report lists Alex Caruso as "questionable" for Wednesday night's meeting with the Indiana Pacers. Caruso has been...

Needing a Win, One More with the Pacers, Alex Caruso Guards Everyone, and Other Bulls Bullets

*scratches long, disheveled beard and grabs a piece of chalk* *crosses out another game on the cave wall* *sits back on ground, grabs knees, rocks back and forth* Nine more games. Nine more games. Nine more games. Look, I want...

Latest News

Orioles vs. Angels Probable Starting Pitchers – March 28

The Baltimore Orioles (0-0) open their 2024 season with a home game against the Los Angeles Angels (0-0) on Thursday, with first pitch at 3:05 PM ET.The Orioles will call on Corbin Burnes versus the Angels and Patrick Sandoval.Orioles vs....

Celtics vs. Hawks Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats and Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Atlanta Hawks (33-39) are big, 17.5-point underdogs as they attempt to build on a three-game winning streak when they host the Boston Celtics (57-15) on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at State Farm Arena. The matchup airs at 7:30 PM...

Celtics vs. Hawks Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Atlanta Hawks (33-39) are big, 17.5-point underdogs as they attempt to build on a three-game winning streak when they host the Boston Celtics (57-15) on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at State Farm Arena. The contest airs at 7:30 PM...

Bucks vs. Pelicans Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Thursday, March 28, 2024

The New Orleans Pelicans (44-28) are only 2-point underdogs against the Milwaukee Bucks (46-26) at Smoothie King Center on Thursday, March 28, 2024. The game begins at 8:00 PM ET on NBA. The matchup's point total is 223.If you are...

How to Watch Indiana State Sycamores vs. Utah Utes: Live Stream or on TV

The Indiana State Sycamores (31-6) will attempt to build on a three-game winning streak when they host the Utah Utes (22-14) on April 2, 2024. The Utes have also won three games in a row.Indiana State won its most recent...

How to Watch Seton Hall Pirates vs. Georgia Bulldogs: Live Stream or on TV

The Seton Hall Pirates (23-12) will attempt to extend a three-game win streak when they host the Georgia Bulldogs (20-16) on April 2, 2024. The Bulldogs have also won three games in a row.In its previous game, Seton Hall beat...

Diamondbacks vs. Rockies: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Arizona Diamondbacks, led by Corbin Carroll, take on Nolan Jones and the Colorado Rockies in their first game of the season, at 10:10 PM ET on Thursday.Keep reading to find out all the details on how to watch Arizona...

How to Watch Mariners vs. Red Sox: Live Stream or on TV

Luis Castillo will take the ball for the Seattle Mariners when they square off against starting pitcher Brayan Bello and the Boston Red Sox in their season opener on Thursday, with first pitch at 10:10 PM ET.The article below will...

Guardians vs. Athletics: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Cleveland Guardians, led by Jose Ramirez, square off against Brent Rooker and the Oakland Athletics in their first game of the season, at 10:07 PM ET on Thursday.If you're trying to watch this game, keep reading for streaming and...

Senators vs. Blackhawks Prediction: Picks, Live Odds and Moneyline – Thursday, March 28, 2024

The bookmakers give the edge to the Ottawa Senators on home ice (-198) over the Chicago Blackhawks (+164) when they face off on Thursday, March 28 at 7:00 PM ET.Senators vs. Blackhawks Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Senators (-198)Underdog: Blackhawks (+164)Total: 6.5Best...

more bulls news