The Chicago Bulls are right in the mix of being a playoff team in the Eastern Conference and the main reason for that has been the exemplary play of Zach LaVine. He appears to have made a compelling case to be named an NBA All-Star as a result.

Through 29 performances, Zach LaVine is posting career-best averages of 28.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while going 51.8% from the field and 42.9% from beyond the arc. Few players have managed to perform at a higher level than him this season.

“When you look at players that are All-Stars, you are saying they are playing at a high level individually and they are also raising the level of the team. I think Zach has done that,” Bulls coach Billy Donovan said, via NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson.

It’s clear from Zach LaVine’s play that he made a real effort to improve during the extended layoff the Bulls received after the NBA suspended the season back in March. Chicago was not among those invited to the NBA Bubble — giving LaVine an unprecedented level of time to improve.

“I’m just working. I’ve gotten a lot better with it, especially just awareness. I’ve always been able to guard the ball. Athletically, I don’t feel like it’s a lot of guys who are more athletic than me that’s going to beat me off the dribble. But just being locked into coverages, watching film and knowing what the other team is going to do and the player that you’re guarding, try to take away what they do well.

“You’re not always going to be good at it, or it’s not always going to work. But at least just try to make him do something that he’s not good at.”

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Before the start of the 2020-21 NBA season, Zach LaVine was thought of as being a potential trade chip for the Chicago Bulls by many. Now, he appears to have solidified himself as a legitimate franchise player and will be a player to build around going forward.