Bulls’ Zach LaVine, Billy Donovan Seem To Have Improved Relationship

November 15, 2024

Anyone who follows the Bulls knows that Zach LaVine has had his name smack dab in the middle of trade rumors for about a full calendar year.

Along with that chatter, there’s been talk that LaVine and coach Billy Donovan haven’t exactly seen eye-to-eye. But appears all of that — if ever real in the first place — has changed, per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.

LaVine and Donovan are reportedly back on the same page and Chicago is better because of it. Actually, regardless of the reason, LaVine and the Bulls are competitive and look improved, albeit slightly, over last season.

“According to one Bulls player, the Donovan-LaVine relationship is as good as it has been since the two came together back in the 2020-21 season, both from a communication standpoint and even just small talk away from the basketball court,” Cowley wrote.

“That was not the case the last few seasons. The Sun-Times and other media outlets reported on several occasions just how disconnected LaVine had seemingly become with his coach.”

LaVine has looked as good as any time in his career in Chicago. “But as the Bulls are finding out, a happy LaVine is a completely engaged LaVine,” Cowley added.

The Bulls (5-7) entered Friday’s NBA Cup road game against the unbeaten Cavaliers (13-0) in sixth place in the Eastern Conference. So hey, if the season ended today, they’d avoid the play-in tournament entirely.

That’s fun for the sake of it, as 70 games remain. Still, you have to like that the Bulls are hovering around .500 if you’re a fan. A full season of this should land them in the playoffs or at least a favorable play-in spot. And a lot of it may come down to whether LaVine and Donovan can stay on the same page.