‘Disconnect between Zach LaVine and the Chicago Bulls continues to grow’ with tension with Demar DeRozan is cited as a major issue after a clash with teammates during halftime in Sunday’s defeat by the Timberwolves
The Chicago Bulls and superstar forward Zach LaVine have not been seeing eye-to-eye recently and according to a report from The Athletic, this includes growing on the court tensions with fellow all-star Demar DeRozan.
While the report states that Lavine and DeRozan maintain a good personal relationship, the lack of wins and growing stylistic tensions have led to a ‘palpable feeling of disconnection’ between Lavine and the organization.
‘I think everybody goes through ups and downs, just like every team does,’ LaVine told The Athletic on Tuesday.
Zach LaVine has been growing more and more ‘disconnected’ from the Chicago Bulls
‘Obviously if we’re not winning games, not everybody’s going to be happy. It’s not going to look as good as it was before. It’s all glitter and show when you’re winning games.’
‘But when you’re losing games and you’re trying to do the same things, it’s turmoil. Everybody has their right to their own opinion. For me, I keep my head down.’
‘I work on my game and try to help my team. I help try to lead the team. That’s where I stand. I just try to take it day by day and evaluate how we’re doing.’
Chicago both hoped and was widely expected to be a serious contender in the east this year after they finished sixth in the conference last year, but the exact opposite has taken place.
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On court tension between LaVine and fellow all-star Demar DeRozan has been a major issue
The Bulls are currently 11th in the east with a 12-18 record and recently discovered they may be with point guard Lonzo Ball for the entire season as he recovers from a knee injury.
The Bulls have reportedly held multiple team meetings as well as one-on-one meetings between Lavine and DeRozan but to this point nothing has been able to work out the team’s issues.
DeRozan is apparently not the only player that there has been tension between with Lavine as the Bulls players reportedly had a strong exchange of words during halftime of the team’s 150-136 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, with multiple teammates directing frustration at.
Following the game head coach Billy Donovan referred to the confrontation as ‘healthy,’ and said players were trying to hold each other accountable.
Even with the ‘on court tension’ Lavine and DeRozan are said to hold a strong friendship
‘There’s a certain level of frustration in people trying to figure out what we can do to help right the ship,’ LaVine told The Athletic.
‘I think with the players that we have, we try to put it on each other to right the ship.’
‘We have those type of guys, those type of mentalities where each of us have been number one options on a team before and then we all come together collectively.’
‘It’s not going to take one person. It’s going to take all of us as a unit. I think that’s what guys are trying to figure out how to help the group.’
Amid the tension and bad results head coach Billy Donovan’s job is said to be safe as of now
Often times in a situation such as this, increased attention would be placed on the job security of coach Donovan, however it was stated in the report that Donovan’s job security is safe as of now.
Donovan signed a multiyear extension before the start of the season much like Lavine who signed a max deal worth $215 million over the course of five years.
DeRozan is also owed a large sum of money from the team due to the three-year $85 million dollar deal he signed in the summer of 2021 to join the Bulls in free agency.
Donovan poses with his star players during media day. All three are on large contracts that make them tough to part ways with
Max contract aside, Lavine has regressed with the rest of the Bulls team this season.
His numbers down across the board through 25 games, as he’s averaging 21.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting 44.3 percent from the floor and 36.5 percent from 3-point range.
He has rejected the notion that the larger dollar amount next to his name has had anything to do with his poorer play saying: ‘It hasn’t weighed (on) anything for me. I don’t understand how that gets put into context.’
‘Just because you sign a deal, it’s supposed to be added weight to it? I think there’s added weight each time you step on the court if you don’t perform, or you don’t play the right way. But everybody’s open to their own opinion.’
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