Zach LaVine is a Father, New Pro-Am Concerns? Dennis Rodman’s Jersey, and Other Bulls Bullets

Zach LaVine and his wife Hunter officially announced the birth of their first child, Saint Thomas LaVine, on Wednesday.

Congrats to the LaVines as they begin this new life journey together!

  • Sports can be so funny. I don’t know LaVine on any kind of personal level, but I had the biggest and goofiest smile on my face when I saw him share this news on Instagram. When you watch these guys go to bat (#OppositeSportsReference) for a city or team you care so much about, it’s crazy how strongly it can feel like a relationship has developed.
  • And this feels particularly true when we’re talking about LaVine. Not only has Chicago watched him grow into a two-time All-Star over the last five seasons, but LaVine could very well be in a Bulls uniform for almost a full decade after signing his most recent contract. In today’s league, having someone in town for that long is extremely rare, and I think we’ve forgotten the kind of impact it can have on a fan base. LaVine could very well go down as one of the most notable players in franchise history by the time his career comes to an end. Some of that will be thanks to his statistical accomplishments, but some of that will also be thanks to the amount of time he spent in this city.
  • DeMar DeRozan had so many clutch shots this season that the NBA had to make a highlight reel.
  • While it may not be the two-hour documentary I asked the NBA to make in honor of DeRozan’s clutchness, I’ll accept it. You simply can’t celebrate Clutch Week without singling out the Bulls’ All-Star for his efforts.
  • ICYMI: One of the most exciting rookies will have to wait an entire season to take the floor:
  • After the news dropped this morning, I saw many questions about whether or not NBA players should participate in Pro-Am action. Holmgren suffered his season-ending foot injury during an exhibition matchup with LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, and many more at The CrawsOver in Seattle. The idea that Holmgren would likely be on the court in October if he simply stayed off the Pro-Am floor is likely a tough pill to swallow for the Thunder front office. Having said that, I really hope this isn’t a situation that causes players and teams alike to crack down on summer league play.
  • Dalen Terry, Javonte Green, DeMar DeRozan, and Patrick Williams have all participated in some form of Pro-Am action this offseason. Do I fear that an injury could arise? Absolutely. But I fear the exact same thing … well … all the time. Coby White hurt his shoulder two offseasons ago while doing a workout away from the team. Justin Lewis tore his ACL this offseason in his own workout. And we all know the fluke injuries that can pop up in the middle of the season. The fact of the matter is that injuries are simply part of the game. As much as that sucks, it shouldn’t stop anyone from suiting up.
  • The Pro-Am appearances this summer have been awesome for both fans and players, and The Athletic’s Law Murray speaks more about why this Holmgren injury shouldn’t change anything:
  • Rudy Gay out here speaking facts!
  • A game-worn (and signed) Dennis Rodman jersey from Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals is up for auction. The artifact will also appear alongside Jordan’s Game 1 jersey from the 1998 NBA Finals. No one tell my significant other that I’m selling the car.
  • You love to see it!
  • Yeah, that field needs some work.
  • 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.

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