Zach LaVine has waved an emotional goodbye to the Chicago Bulls having spent eight years with the Eastern Conference side.
The two-time NBA All-Star is set to begin a new journey with the Sacramento Kings following the departure of De’Aaron Fox who is now teaming up with Victor Wembanyama at the San Antonio Spurs.
One man who will certainly be happy to see LaVine in Sacramento is DeMar DeRozan, the pair were All-Stars during their time with the Bulls. DeRozan recently revealed how he was debating his Kings future but the arrival of a former teammate will likely see him stay.
LaVine is ‘excited’ by his move to the Kings but has also struggled to say goodbye to the city of Chicago.
29-year-old LaVine will be looking to hit the ground running for a Kings side that has come on leaps and bounds under interim coach Dough Christie.
It seems the struggling days of the Kings are behind them and the side who sit 9th in the Western Conference with a 25-24 record have a real shot at the playoffs.
LaVine said that he is ‘excited by what lies ahead’ with the Kings and will certainly be glad to stand a chance at playing in the post-season, something that was debatable for a Bulls side who are 21-29 in the East.
Despite the Bulls’ struggles, LaVine was still thankful for his time with the franchise who never made it past the first round of the playoffs during his time.
However, LaVine said: “It’s tough to put into words how much this city and this organization have meant to me over the past 8 years. Chicago, you’ve welcomed me with open arms, and the memories we’ve created together will stay with me forever.
“The fans here are unlike any other—you’ve made playing in Chicago a true honor, and I’ll always be grateful for your support. To my teammates, coaches, and the entire Bulls staff thank you. You’ve all played a huge part in my growth, both on and off the court.
“I’ll always carry the love and appreciation from Chicago with me. Thank you for everything. Let’s keep pushing forward. #LightTheBeam”
Saying goodbye to the face of the franchise is always tough, especially for a team that was struggling to win games anyway.
In exchange for LaVine, the Bulls received Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter and Their own 2025 1st-round pick via the San Antonio Spurs.
While the three additions are likely to have an impact in their own right they will all struggle to compete with the numbers that LaVine was putting up for the Bulls.
Despite playing in a struggling team the guard was still averaging 24-4-4. In only two of his seasons with the Bulls LaVine averaged less than 20.
Most notably, he’s connecting at career-best efficiency, setting personal marks at 44.6% from long range and 51.1% overall.
The absence of LaVine from the Bulls will be stark, the Kings have secured a solid Fox replacement.
