After missing the past 11 months of action due to rehab from left ACL surgery, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine will make his season debut on Saturday against the Pistons, Bulls Vice President John Paxson announced today.
“He (@ZachLaVine) will make his debut Saturday against Detroit.” – John Paxson pic.twitter.com/oduOaQSARc
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 9, 2018
LaVine will be on a 20-minutes restriction during his first game back, according to the team. He will not play in the second game of a back-to-back until after the All-Star break passes in mid-February.
LaVine, an explosive two-way guard who averaged 18.9 points in 37 minutes per game with Minnesota last season, was traded to the Bulls on draft night along with teammate Kris Dunn. Upon his return, the Bulls will sport a young, promising nucleus of LaVine, Dunn and Lauri Markannen.
“He’s a dynamic scorer for us,” Dunn said when asked about LaVine, according to the Chicago Tribune. “He can get out in transition, shoot the 3 ball. He can pull up. He’s a guy who can create for others too. It’s just another playmaker on the court. He’s going to make the game easier for everybody.”
“I’m just happy to be back.” – @ZachLaVine pic.twitter.com/DqnyIkSrM2
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 9, 2018
LaVine, 22, will enter in his fourth professional season in the league. He won the NBA’s All-Star Slam Dunk competition in 2015 and in 2016.
It’s unclear whether he’ll start or come off the bench in his immediate return to the court.
