Apr 22, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) looks on during the second half of game three of the first round for the 2022 NBA playoffs against the Milwaukee Bucks at United Center. Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Maxed out? Hardly. Bulls star Zach LaVine up for new challenges

By Eduardo Solano | Last updated 8/10/22

The Chicago Bulls agreed to a five-year, $215 million max contract extension with star guard Zach LaVine in the offseason. That's more than what Michael Jordan and Derrick Rose made with the team combined.

Re-signing LaVine was a priority for the Bulls and their biggest move in free agency. The Mavericks, Trail Blazers, Lakers and Spurs reportedly had interest in him. Now, LaVine must adjust to being a new father and a first-time max contract player.

“It’s going to be a completely new experience for me,” LaVine told Natasha Dye of People Magazine. “I think I’ll be able to adjust, but you know, knowing that it’s going to be more about [the baby] and my wife, and obviously my job has its demands.”

Zach LaVine lives at the rim

Watch some of the back-to-back Slam Dunk Contest Champion's best jams from this past season! #NBADunkWeek pic.twitter.com/ZZzzgkmFNq
— NBA (@NBA) August 4, 2022

High expectations

LaVine is the highest-paid player on a team with an open window for contention, as long as everyone is healthy. He averaged 24.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 34.7 minutes over 67 games last season. The two-time NBA All-Star joined Devin Booker, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving as the only players to average at least 24 points, four rebounds and four assists while shooting 38 percent or better from three-point range.

LaVine suffered an injury to his left knee during the season. It limited him, but he continued to go hard on the floor. In the playoffs, he delivered double-doubles in Game 1 and Game 4 of the first-round series against the Bucks, though the injury kept him out of Game 5.

LaVine won't let lingering effects of the injury affect his on-court performance.

“People really don’t have to worry about that side, ’cause I think for me, I have my own bucket list and checklists and things that I want to accomplish for myself,” LaVine told Dye.

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