Zach LaVine doesn’t like the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Bulls don’t like Zach LaVine.
That’s the upshit of a new article from ESPN’s Jamal Collier, which explains how there came to be so much tension between LaVine and the organisation he plays for.
LaVine initially annoyed the Bulls when he suggested he would be open to a trade, and again frustrated team management when he opted to have season-ending surgery in February instead of attempting to rehab his injury and salvage the season.
LaVine has also butted heads with head coach Billy Donovan for years now, according to the report, which also states: “LaVine has also felt singled out during film sessions and feels like he has taken too much blame for the team’s losing during his tenure — which has produced one playoff appearance in seven years — despite other roster failings, sources told ESPN.”
One source from the Bulls, quoted in the article, had some damning things to say about LaVine.
“He’s never won, he’s done it his way the whole way and never won,” the source told ESPN. “If he’s interested in winning, he’ll do what’s asked of him. And if he’s motivated to not be here, one way is to come, be compliant and be who he is.”
The former UCLA guard has been stuck in Chicago due to a lack of interest in him on the trade market.
Despite not seeing eye-to-eye with Billy Donovan for years now, the Bulls signed LaVine to a five-year, $215 million contract as recently as 2022.
He has a player option for the 2026-27 season, but is under contract until then.