The Chicago Bulls lost their shine ever since the double three-peat winning team was dismantled, and the franchise is yet to make a trip to the Finals since they last made it there in 1998. Fans are yearning for the team to groom another player like Michael Jordan, and Zach LaVine is determined to fit into the role.
Now, it would be a bit much to compare Michael Jordan with Zach LaVine. The latter is nowhere close to what MJ achieved throughout his career, but LaVine is constantly moving ahead in search of superstardom. How does one achieve that? By breaking or matching records, of course!
Zach LaVine has been instrumental in helping the Chicago Bulls fight for a playoff spot this season, and the numbers he’s recording are just mind-boggling!
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Zach LaVine matches Michael Jordan in an incredible scoring stat
The numbers are always off the charts when Michael Jordan comes into the conversation. It is just hard for others to match MJ in a scoring statistic, but a determined Zach LaVine is effortlessly etching his name alongside ‘His Airness’ in Bulls’ history books.
LaVine played 14 games in February 2021 for the Chicago Bulls and recorded eight 30-point games! That itself is an incredible number, but the 25-year-old forward averaged 30.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.7 assists, and shot 50/45/80% during the span.
This has not been done by any other Bulls player in a single month, aside from MJ, of course. Hence, LaVine and Jordan are now in an exclusive franchise record as the only players to average 30+ PPG on 50/45/80% shooting in a month (min 10 games).
Bulls players with 30+ PPG on 50/45/80% shooting in a month (min 10 games):
– Michael Jordan in December 1989
– Michael Jordan in January 1991
– Michael Jordan in January 1996
– Zach LaVine in February 2021 pic.twitter.com/bEQiU6zsoC— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 28, 2021
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Jordan’s last such performance came in January 1996 when the shooting guard averaged 32.5 points, and shot 52% from the field and 45.6% from the three-point line. Fans know where the Bulls finished that season!
Coming back to reality, the Chicago Bulls are 10th in the East, and have a lot of work to do. Their 15-17 record swiftly needs to turn into a positive winning percentage to guarantee playoff hopes.
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A fiery Zach LaVine has been leading the team admirably, and a similar effort from his teammates can push the Bulls into the playoff contention as they’re currently behind the Indiana Pacers and the Charlotte Hornets.
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