Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Bulls All-Star Zach LaVine playing through small ligament tear in left thumb

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/27/21

The Chicago Bulls began the 2021-22 NBA season as the Eastern Conference's hottest team by winning four consecutive games but have already experienced what could become a worrisome setback.

The Athletic's Shams Charania reported Wednesday that Bulls All-Star guard Zach LaVine "has a small ligament tear" in his left (non-shooting) thumb. Both Charania and ESPN's Jamal Collier say LaVine intends to play through the issue as long as he can handle the pain during contests.

Bulls All-Star Zach LaVine has a small ligament tear in the thumb of his non-shooting hand but intends to play through the injury, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. It’s a matter of pain tolerance and LaVine wants to play as Chicago starts the season 4-0.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 27, 2021

Collier added that LaVine was already experiencing discomfort before Monday's 111-108 win over the Toronto Raptors that propelled the Bulls to 4-0 on the season. Meanwhile, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times reports the hope is that LaVine's thumb "heals on its own over the next few weeks," when the team will re-evaluate the injury.

Chicago hosts the 3-1 New York Knicks on Thursday night.

According to ESPN stats, LaVine leads the unbeaten Bulls in scoring with 25.5 points per game, and he leads all Chicago starters with a player efficiency rating of 24.15. LaVine will enter Thursday night shooting 44.4% from three-point range and 50% from the field.

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