Zach LaVine

Zach LaVine

LaVine driving to the basket with UCLA in 2014
No. 8 – Minnesota Timberwolves
Position Shooting guard / Point guard
League NBA
Personal information
Born (1995-03-10) March 10, 1995
Renton, Washington
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight 189 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school Bothell (Bothell, Washington)
College UCLA (2013–2014)
NBA draft 2014 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13th overall
Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Playing career 2014–present
Career history
2014–present Minnesota Timberwolves
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Zachary LaVine (born March 10, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected in the first round of the 2014 NBA draft with the 13th overall pick by the Timberwolves. He is a two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion.

LaVine grew up in Washington, where he was honored as the state's top high school player. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins. After one season at UCLA, he entered the NBA after being named one of the top freshmen in the Pac-12 Conference. As a rookie with Minnesota, he won the league's Slam Dunk Contest, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In 2016, he became just the fourth NBA player to ever win consecutive dunk contests.

Early life

LaVine was born in Renton, Washington, to athletic parents. His father, Paul, played American football professionally in the United States Football League (USFL) and National Football League (NFL), and his mother, CJ, was a softball player.[1][2] Around the age of five, LaVine developed an interest in basketball after watching Michael Jordan in Space Jam.[3] He later became a fan of Kobe Bryant, and modeled his game after his childhood idol.[4]

LaVine practiced playing in the family backyard, where his father had him repeatedly emulate the NBA's Three-Point Shootout.[3] He attended Bothell High School in Bothell, Washington.[1] Playing point guard, he was their primary ball handler. By his junior year, he had grown to 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m), and he would practice dunking for hours in his backyard after his shooting routine would end.[3]

As a senior, he averaged 28.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, and was named the 2013 Associated Press Washington state player of the year and Washington Mr. Basketball.[1] He was also recognized nationally as a first-team Parade All-American.[5] He played in the Ballislife All-American Game, and won the event's slam dunk contest.[6] Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com, LaVine was listed as the No. 12 shooting guard and the No. 44 player in the nation in 2013.[7]

College career

On June 20, 2012, LaVine verbally committed to attending UCLA and playing for coach Ben Howland for the 2013 season.[8] After Howland was fired nine months later, LaVine considered staying in-state and attending the University of Washington instead. However, he decided to remain with UCLA and their new coach, Steve Alford; LaVine had inherited an affection for UCLA from his father, who grew up a fan of Bruins basketball while growing up in nearby San Bernardino, California.[9]

LaVine shooting against Stanford

After a strong start to 2013–14 as the team's sixth man, featuring an impressive display of outside shooting and explosive dunks, the former point guard LaVine evoked memories of former Bruin Russell Westbrook's UCLA beginnings.[3] NBA draft pundits began ranking LaVine high on their projections for the 2014 NBA draft if he declared himself eligible.[3][10] ESPN.com draft expert Chad Ford attributed LaVine's appeal to the Westbrook comparisons. At one point, Ford listed him as the 10th overall pick, while NBADraft.net ranked him fifth.[3] During the season, LaVine typically entered the game with coach Alford's freshman son, Bryce Alford, who usually handled the ball, while starter Kyle Anderson was the team's main facilitator.[3][11] During a six-game span beginning on January 26, 2014, he endured a shooting slump where he made just 7 of 36 shots from the field.[9] He averaged 9.4 points per game during the season, fourth best on the team, and his 48 three-point field goals made were the second most by a freshman in the school's history.[12] However, LaVine did not reach double-figures in scoring in 14 of the final 18 games,[13] and totaled just 11 points and was 0 for 8 on three-point attempts in the final five games.[14] Despite his late-season struggles, he was voted to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team,[15][16] and he was named with Bryce Alford as the team's most valuable freshmen.[12]

On April 16, 2014, he declared for the NBA draft, forgoing his final three years of college eligibility.[17]

College statistics

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2013–14 UCLA 37 1 24.4 .441 .375 .691 2.5 1.8 .9 .2 9.4

Professional career

Minnesota Timberwolves (2014–present)

2014–15 season

LaVine draws a foul from DeAndre Jordan

On June 26, 2014, LaVine was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. The Timberwolves drafted him more for his long-term potential than for immediate returns.[18] He signed his rookie scale contract with the team on July 8, 2014.[19] During the offseason, he won the slam dunk contest at the Seattle Basketball Pro-Am League while using many of the same moves he used to capture the Ballislife contest.[20][21] Over the first five games of the 2014–15 season, LaVine played a total of 12 minutes. When an ankle injury sidelined starter Ricky Rubio indefinitely, LaVine became the starting point guard over veteran Mo Williams.[22][23] After being switched back to the bench by coach Flip Saunders in favor of Williams, LaVine scored 28 points in a 120–119 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on November 28. He became only the second teenager ever in the NBA to have at least 25 points and five assists as a reserve.[lower-alpha 1] LaVine moved back into the starting lineup after back spasms sidelined Williams.[25] On December 6 against the San Antonio Spurs, LaVine had 22 points and 10 assists for his first double-double.[26] He became just the fourth teenage player to record a 20-point, 10-assist game in the NBA.[lower-alpha 2]

Rubio returned in February 2015, resulting in a dip in playing time for LaVine. However, Williams was also traded that month to open up more opportunities.[28][29] Again incorporating moves from the Ballislife contest two years earlier, LaVine won the Slam Dunk Contest during the 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend.[6] He became the youngest champion since an 18-year-old Kobe Bryant in 1997.[30] LaVine became a crowd favorite after his first dunk, which he performed while wearing Jordan's No. 23 jersey from the movie Space Jam.[31] With a perfect 50 on each of his first two dunks, he was the first player since Dwight Howard in 2009 with a perfect score on multiple dunks.[32] Yahoo! Sports hailed him as "the most electrifying performer of All-Star Saturday Night... and, if we're being honest, in quite a number of years."[30] LaVine also participated in the Rising Stars Challenge that weekend.[33] On April 11, LaVine had a season-best game with 37 points and nine rebounds in a loss to the Golden State Warriors.[34][35] For the season, LaVine played in 77 games, starting in 40, and averaged 10.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, while shooting 42.2 percent overall and 34.1 percent on three-pointers. He was subsequently named to the All-NBA Rookie Second Team.[36]

2015–16 season

LaVine (middle) defending against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016

On October 21, 2015, the Timberwolves exercised their third-year team option on LaVine's rookie scale contract, extending the contract through the 2016–17 season.[37] With Ricky Rubio sidelined in early November, LaVine took over the starting point guard role and took advantage of the increased minutes. On November 13, he scored a season-high 26 points in a loss to the Indiana Pacers.[38] He later topped that mark on December 13, scoring 28 points in a loss to the Phoenix Suns.[39] In a 114–107 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 25, 2016, LaVine, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Andrew Wiggins became the first trio of NBA teammates under age 21 to score at least 20 points in the same game.[40][41] On January 27, he scored 35 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder, just two points shy of his career high. His 35 points set a franchise record for a bench player and set the highest scoring total by a non-starter in the league in 2015–16.[42] He tied Minnesota single-game records with a shooting percentage of 82.4 (14 for 17) and most two-point field goals without a miss (9 for 9).[43] During the 2016 All-Star Weekend, LaVine scored 30 points for Team USA in the Rising Stars Challenge to capture MVP honors.[44] He also became the fourth player ever to win consecutive Slam Dunk Contests.[lower-alpha 3] His battle with Aaron Gordon through two tie-breakers in the final round drew comparisons to the showdown between Jordan and Dominique Wilkins in 1988.[45]

2016–17 season

On October 24, 2016, the Timberwolves exercised their fourth-year team option on LaVine's rookie scale contract, extending the contract through the 2017–18 season.[46] On November 9, he tied his career high with 37 points in a 123–107 win over the Orlando Magic.[47]

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2014–15 Minnesota 77 40 24.7 .422 .341 .842 2.8 3.6 .7 .1 10.1
2015–16 Minnesota 82 33 28.0 .452 .389 .793 2.8 3.1 .8 .2 14.0
Career 159 73 26.4 .439 .373 .816 2.8 3.3 .8 .2 12.1

Off the court

In March 2016, LaVine guest starred in an episode of the hit Disney XD television series Kirby Buckets.[48]

Notes

  1. ↑ The first was Kobe Bryant in 1997.[24]
  2. ↑ He joined LeBron James, Dajuan Wagner, and Stephon Marbury.[27]
  3. ↑ He joined Jordan, Jason Richardson, and Nate Robinson.[45]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Zach LaVine bio". UCLABruins.com. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  2. ↑ Kelley, Mason (November 30, 2011). "Bothell's Zach LaVine shoots for the top". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mays, Robert (February 27, 2014). "Swinging on the NBA Draft Yo-Yo". Grantland.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014.
  4. ↑ Mizutani, Dane (November 28, 2014). "Three Questions With Zach LaVine". NBA.com. Archived from the original on January 31, 2015.
  5. ↑ Allen, Percy (May 22, 2013). "Nigel Williams-Goss makes Parade All-America team". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Guardabascio, Mike (April 30, 2016). "Lonzo Ball earns MVP honors at Ballislife All-American Game in Long Beach". Long Beach Press–Telegram. Archived from the original on May 19, 2016.
  7. ↑ Zach LaVine Recruiting Profile
  8. ↑ "Zach LaVine - UCLA Basketball's First 2013 Commitment". Jun 21, 2012. Retrieved Feb 19, 2014.
  9. 1 2 Wang, Jack (March 5, 2014). "UCLA basketball notes: Zach LaVine shaking off slump in time for Washington homecoming". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014.
  10. ↑ UCLA's Zach LaVine is dunking his way to the NBA
  11. ↑ Fuller, Marcus R. (June 27, 2014). "Timberwolves take UCLA's Zach LaVine with 13th pick of NBA draft". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Archived from the original on December 14, 2014.
  12. 1 2 "UCLA Basketball Announces Year-End Honors at Team Banquet". UCLA Athletics. May 5, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  13. ↑ Wang, Jack (March 28, 2014). "UCLA freshman Zach LaVine to declare for NBA draft". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014.
  14. ↑ Wang, Jack (April 3, 2014). "UCLA men's basketball gains and losses in Steve Alford's first season". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on April 3, 2014.
  15. ↑ Kartje, Ryan (March 10, 2014). "Anderson, Adams named to All-Pac-12 first team". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014.
  16. ↑ "2013-14 Pac-12 Conference Men's Basketball Honors" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. March 10, 2014. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014.
  17. ↑ UCLA's Zach LaVine Declares for NBA Draft , UCLABruins.com, April 16, 2014
  18. ↑ Helfand, Zach (December 19, 2014). "Tracking UCLA's first-round NBA picks in 2014". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 20, 2014.
  19. ↑ Timberwolves Sign First-Round Pick Zach LaVine
  20. ↑ Devine, Dan (July 28, 2014). "Timberwolves rookie Zach LaVine stars at Seattle Pro-Am with series of seriously sick dunks (Video)". Ball Don't Lie. Archived from the original on May 21, 2016.
  21. ↑ Arek (July 28, 2014). "ZACH LAVINE DESTROYS DUNK CONTEST VS PRO DUNKER AT SEATTLE PRO AM!! FREETHROWLINE WINDMILL & MORE!". Ballislife. Archived from the original on May 21, 2016.
  22. ↑ Zgoda, Jerry (November 10, 2014). "Wolves place trust in LaVine". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on November 13, 2014.
  23. ↑ Harper, Zach (November 12, 2014). "Zach LaVine approaches surprise point guard role with confidence". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on November 13, 2014.
  24. ↑ Aschburner, Steve (November 29, 2014). "STARS ALIGN FOR WOLVES' ROOKIE LAVINE". NBA.com. Archived from the original on December 2, 2014.
  25. ↑ Zgoda, Jerry (December 8, 2014). "Williams out, Muhammad intends to play vs. Warriors". The Star Tribune. Archived from the original on December 9, 2014.
  26. ↑ Youngblood, Kent (December 6, 2014). "Spurs handle Wolves smoothly". The Star Tibune. Archived from the original on December 7, 2014.
  27. ↑ Youngblood, Kent (December 6, 2014). "Wolves take a step back in loss to Spurs". The Star Tribune. Archived from the original on December 7, 2014.
  28. ↑ Greder, Andy (February 28, 2015). "Timberwolves' Zach LaVine recognizes ins, outs of playing time". Pioneer Press. Archived from the original on March 8, 2015.
  29. ↑ Hawkins, Stephen (February 3, 2015). "Mavs win 100-94 without Rondo in Rubio's return to Wolves". NBA.com. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 8, 2015.
  30. 1 2 Devine, Dan (February 15, 2015). "Zach LaVine explodes on national stage, wins 2015 Sprite Slam Dunk". yahoo.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015.
  31. ↑ Hoffman, Benjamin (February 15, 2015). "Zach LaVine, With Nod to Michael Jordan, Soars to Victory in Slam Dunk Contest". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Zach LaVine earns top-dunks honors". ESPN. February 15, 2015. Archived from the original on February 15, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Dieng, LaVine, Muhammad and Wiggins to Represent Wolves in 2015 BBVA Compass Rising Stars Challenge". NBA.com. January 28, 2015. Archived from the original on January 31, 2015.
  34. ↑ "Curry, Warriors too much for Timberwolves". NBA.com. April 11, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Zach LaVine Shines Scoring Career-High 37-Points". YouTube.com. April 11, 2015. Retrieved April 12, 2015.
  36. ↑ Youngblood, Kent (May 18, 2015). "Wiggins, LaVine win NBA rookie team honors". The Star Tribune. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015.
  37. ↑ "Timberwolves Exercise Team Options on Five Players". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. October 21, 2015. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  38. ↑ "George scores 29, Pacers beat Wolves for 6th win in 7 games". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. November 13, 2015. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  39. ↑ "Knight's 25 points lead Suns over Timberwolves 108-101". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. December 13, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  40. ↑ Souhan, Jim (January 29, 2016). "Souhan: LaVine's emergence with Wolves will benefit Wiggins, Towns". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on February 14, 2016.
  41. ↑ "LeBron James helps give Tyronn Lue first win as Cavs coach". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 26, 2016. Archived from the original on February 14, 2016.
  42. ↑ "Durant, Thunder win a thriller over Timberwolves, 126-123". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. January 27, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  43. ↑ "Zach LaVine tied or broke four single-game Wolves records Wednesday". Star Tribune. January 28, 2016. Archived from the original on February 14, 2016.
  44. ↑ "Zach LaVine highlights Rising Stars with 30 points, 7 boards". ESPN. February 12, 2016. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  45. 1 2 "Zach LaVine wins slam dunk contest in battle with Aaron Gordon". ESPN.com. February 14, 2016. Archived from the original on February 14, 2016.
  46. ↑ "TIMBERWOLVES EXERCISE TEAM OPTIONS ON FOUR PLAYERS". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. October 24, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  47. ↑ "Timberwolves thump Magic to earn first road win". ESPN.com. November 9, 2016. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
  48. ↑ Eccher, Marino (March 14, 2016). "Zach LaVine will guest star on Disney's 'Kirby Buckets' this week". TwinCities.com. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
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