CLEVELAND — Zach LaVine spent his All-Star weekend dutifully dancing between sponsorship obligations and basketball showcases. DeMar DeRozan spoke to the unparalleled balance he’s found as a man. Ayo Dosunmu held his own in an exhibition against the NBA’s top young talent.
It evokes a simple, yet poignant, reflection from those who have followed the Chicago Bulls for the last five seasons:
What a difference two years can make.
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Because there was LaVine, back in February 2020, putting on the brave face as Chicago played host to a weekend of festivities that richly celebrated the city’s basketball history — but noticeably lacked Bulls representation. LaVine participated in his first 3-point contest, and an injured Wendell Carter Jr. was a Rising Stars selectee. But the only buzz around the team came courtesy of the “Fire GarPax” chants that cascaded over LaVine’s head during a television appearance on ESPN. Another weight on his shoulders.
Now? LaVine will suit up alongside an MVP candidate teammate for the headline event Sunday night — the first time the Bulls have placed multiple All-Stars since 2016. A Rising Star in Dosunmu will drink the action from the stands.
“It just shows the progression of the franchise, and that we’re trending in the right direction,” LaVine said. “Obviously, we’re all here for a reason.’’
Or, multiple. DeRozan is enjoying arguably the best season of his decorated 13-year career, the league’s fifth-leading scorer (28.1 points per game) and preeminent closer. LaVine, despite an expected dip in usage, has maintained his typically gaudy efficiency. Dosunmu is already an impact defender and playmaker.
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And then there’s the standings, which clock the Bulls at 38-21 at the break, tied for first in the Eastern Conference with the Miami Heat. That's already more victories than they've notched in any of the last four seasons, and maintaining their current 52-win pace would give the team its best regular-season record since 2011.
“I told Zach when I came: ‘You win, everything comes,’” DeRozan said. “Only thing that matters is winning. And everything else that you can dream of or ask for will come.
“You don't even gotta worry about it. Let's just take care of winning, let's win, let's go out here and compete at the highest level. It's gonna be hard, but if you really want it, damn everything else. It's all about winning from here on out. And I think this is just a testament of us winning along the road when obviously we have a bigger goal at hand.”
That’s a dynamic LaVine has always understood. But for the first time in his career, he’s seeing the results. In turn, his star — and the Bulls’ profile — continues to rise.
“I think it's just understood because you see it,” DeRozan said of the Bulls’ respect around the league. “Me going to Chicago, they knew I wasn't going just to wear a Chicago Bulls jersey and try to get some free Jordans. We was going to go make something happen.”
So they have, breaking free of what at times felt an inescapable rebuild with the help of Billy Donovan, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso — the list goes on — and the fresh front office that flipped a flawed roster into a contender in less than two calendar turns.
“They're always trying to improve the team,” LaVine said of that front office staff, led by executive vice president Artūras Karnišovas and general manager Marc Eversley. “Obviously we're gonna go out there and try to compete and do the best we can and compete to championship-level aspirations.”
Those are words that haven’t been sincerely uttered in this market in some time. And while one All-Star weekend doesn’t fulfill the ultimate goal, it’s a sign that the special stew that’s been brewing all season is nearing a boil.