Sam Smith; Zach LaVine

Sam Smith

I know I'm going to be celebrating Sunday afternoon in Milwaukee.

No, this is not a prediction, other than the smile no one can suppress after ordering the Fiserv Forum Sobelman's Fried Pickle Chips and the Mac Shack Pork Belly Burnt-end with onion tanglers. I know; you can just taste it already.

As for Zach LaVine, he can taste the first playoff game in his NBA career.

"It's about time, about time" LaVine said with a smile after practice earlier this week. "I'm excited. I've said this: Everybody's gotta play the cards they're dealt. It just took me a little bit longer than everybody else. And I didn't cop out and go to a different team."

LaVine is more than ready for his first NBA postseason.

Which is perhaps the sixth reason to not only be proud LaVine is with the Bulls—assuming you're a Bulls fan, of course—but that LaVine ignored the frequent NBA norm that is generally called the James Harden Rule to give up and force a trade when your team is doing poorly.

Sure, LaVine did test the market as a restricted free agent after his first season with the Bulls in 2017-18 and got himself an offer from the Sacramento Kings the Bulls matched. But that was as much the Bulls as LaVine since with LaVine coming off knee surgery and the Bulls a desolate 27-55 season, the team apparently wanted to assess the market for LaVine. There was one and the Bulls quickly matched the offer.

And since then despite enduring three head coaches, one of whom seemed constantly trying to force him out, losses in two thirds of his team's games, more than 50 different teammates and having to explain to media after virtually every loss why, the current senior Bull in length of service with the team pushed and became an All-Star and an Olympic gold medal winner.

He was unofficial host for the 2020 All-Star game in Chicago and professed his loyalty to the franchise no matter how the question was worded and whatever the agenda.

All this while earning, or at least suffering, perhaps the least welcome distinction in the NBA.

That was LaVine's tenure as the active NBA leader in most games played without being in a playoff game. Which ends about 5:35 p.m. Sunday in Milwaukee when the Bulls open the first round playoff series against the favored Milwaukee Bucks.

"I think it's going to be extremely intense playing the defending champs in Game 1 at home," acknowledged LaVine.

But he was hardly running from the challenge. Maybe just stepping back into it, as it were, with his famous 3-point shot.

"I think it's going to be the top of the top," said LaVine.

So the "honor" of active leader in games played without being in the postseason Sunday switches to Buddy Hield, now with the Indiana Pacers and much rumored as a trade possibility. So maybe he's next. Hield has played 468 games, 10 fewer than LaVine, who was 13th all-time in most games played without being in the playoffs in his eighth NBA season.

Though it's a designation more from circumstance than craftsmanship.

Tom Van Arsdale is the all-time leader in games played without a playoff appearance.

The all-time leader is Tom Van Arsdale, part of one of the most talented brother combinations in NBA history. He just got stuck on some bad Pistons teams in the 60s and then Cincinnati after they traded Oscar Robertson. It was 12 NBA years and 929 games, three All-Star games and a career average more than 15 per game.

Former Bull Eddy Curry made the top 10 thanks to being a Bull in the early 2000s. And one of the best scorers of his era, Geoff Petrie averaging more than 21 in his career, became a general manager too late for his playing teams.

So Zach drops off that list-to-avoid in one of the most remarkable seasons ever for an All-Star player.

Not so much statistically, though LaVine still finished in the top 20 in scoring at 24.4 per game, which was his fewest in four years. He averaged 4.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists, both lower than previous seasons. And while his 3-point shooting declined from last season, the 6-foot-5 guard and still high-flying dunker still led the team.

All this playing on a bothersome knee that probably will require some procedure after the season. And though LaVine missed 15 games, he still played his most since his anterior crucial tear in 2017. He's even in the league's top 30 in minutes per game.

LaVine was a true ironman this season, finishing in the top-30 in minutes per game and playing in his most regular season games since 2017.

Which if not remarkable is somewhat unusual in this NBA when players take so much time off for injuries. And at a time when LaVine will be a free agent after the season. Would his value have been less if he just shut down months back? He certainly would have physical approval with the injures he's played with. Though LaVine says he's doing well and anxious to play.

"The time (off for the play-in tournament) has let me get some treatment and stay off it a bit," LaVine explained.

"Obviously, having practices isn't as intense as games. It's been good and I feel pretty good right now. It gets better with rest. Obviously, the more pounding and impact you put on it, it tends to get a little bit more tired, a little bit more sore. I've been going back and forth doing a lot of treatment. I've been at every practice; then staying after for treatment.

"I'm trying to get as close to healthy as I can," said LaVine, ‘get my knee feeling as best as it can with still playing, working out. I feel pretty good right now."

Players should play; LaVine doesn't deserve a medal for doing so.

But what he's also done this season as a teammate has rarely been seen in the NBA. Heck, I don't think I've seen it in the workplace. And definitely not in government.

Zach LaVine, a star and Olympic gold medal winner, basically stepped aside in his contract year to not only do what was best for his team, but to enable an All-Star teammate just joining the team to have his career-best season. And then becoming something of that teammate's biggest cheerleader, running to retrieve the game ball from the officials after a season-high game and becoming the p.a. announcer on the team plane to honor another for the position he once had.

It was LaVine on the team plane thanks to a BullsTV video going on speaker to reveal DeRozan was voted an Eastern Conference starter for the All-Star game. It was LaVine taking on the equipment man duties and tracking down the game ball after DeRozan had his Bulls high 50-point game. Seriously, what co-worker does those kinds of things? Who's more excited for the other guy basically taking your spot in the spotlight?

LaVine has been perhaps DeMar DeRozan's biggest supporter this season.

DeRozan has had a renaissance season and it has been deserved with his excellent play. Though there were many doubters when he was signed last summer because he was, well, doing what LaVine does. How was that going to work? With LaVine clearing a path for DeRozan's game. DeRozan was named a finalist for the Twyman/Stokes best teammate award. Though my vote would be for LaVine. Not that he ever mentions it, but by stepping into the shadows a bit, LaVine probably also lost his chance to be voted to the All-NBA team.

Perhaps he would have fallen back anyway with the knee issues. But missing All-NBA likely keeps LaVine from becoming eligible for the free agent super maximum contract. Certainly, if finances and glory were LaVine's priorities, he could have done much to assure that. But for him it became mostly about team and teammates.

It's why you root for players like Zach LaVine as the kid waiting for Christmas morning and ready to unwrap the gift he's likely thought most about.

"A lot more attention to detail," LaVine related about this week's Bulls work. "Taking more time with each set, plays, players, and really trying to get it right. Getting everybody in the right mind frame to come out there and do what we have to do. We've obviously had a good amount of time off, so we've got to have competitive juices and simulation of games. You can't just walk into a game without playing, so I think it's been good."

LaVine is up to the challenge of facing the defending champs at home.

LaVine hasn't played in the playoffs starting with rebuilding Minnesota and then being traded to the Bulls just when the Timberwolves were on the verge of making the playoffs and did. So LaVine went to watch.

"I've been to Finals games," he said. "I've been to playoff games. Came just to see what the atmosphere is like, to see the intensity, and obviously the physicality is amped up a little bit."

Which everyone expects to see with the Bucks.

"They are physical and try to take away you getting space," said LaVine. "Obviously, me and DeMar are good at what we do and put up pretty good numbers. But it's just a little harder. We're just going to have to do our job a little bit better. With the scoring prowess we have, if one of us gets it going that's a good thing. But this isn't going to be a one-on-one game. We're going to have to beat these guys as a team. They're going to know exactly what we're doing and we're going to know what they are doing. It's who executes their strategy better."

LaVine has a lot to be excited about these days, with his first playoff appearance tipping off on Sunday.

Pizza, fresh baked bread, a heck of a discount, it's almost May, flowers are peeking out, a four-year-old frolicking with his dog, ice cream, the Lakers out of the playoffs (sorry, couldn't resist), Zach LaVine in the playoffs.

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Zach LaVine ready to take the big stage vs. Bucks: 'It's about time'

The Bulls received good news in relation to Zach LaVine on Wednesday night. The two-time All-Star will be back with the team soon.

And not tending to his back so much; and, of course, his left knee.

"When the season after tonight resumes," Bulls coach Billy Donovan said before Wednesday's game with the Sacramento Kings, "we expect to have him (LaVine) back."

That's a relief for the Bulls and the team's chances of continuing the Bulls run to the top of the Eastern Conference after LaVine detoured to Los Angeles this week for a second opinion/confirmation/reassurance about the latent issues with his surgically repaired knee.

Donovan's pregame explanation seemed comforting, though he said LaVine's participation, like in back to back games, will be determined. Donovan said LaVine is medically cleared to participate in All-Star weekend events Friday through Sunday in Cleveland, but Donovan said he was unaware of LaVine's plans or preferences.

"It went very well," Donovan said of the visit to renowned surgeon Neal ElAttrache of the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Clinic.

"He did have some swelling that was taken out of the knee (drained). Gave him a lubricant to help him. I think right now the doctors feel totally fine with him resuming playing. I think Zach felt very, very good about the meeting; it went really well just based on some of the interventions and things they did during his visit. He's probably going to be about 48 hours before he can do any activity. But he should be able to resume activity after that.

"He would be eligible to (participate in the All Star game and three-point contest) physically," Donovan said. "I think probably (there will be) some consultation with our doctors, his doctor he went to see in LA (about All-Star weekend). There maybe something like, ‘Hey, this is a wise choice on number of minutes.' Or something like that. I don't think Zach has any expectation to try to go to an All-Star game and play 30 minutes. Certainly, it's a great honor for him to be able to do that a second year; he is healthy to play. There'll probably, definitely, be some managing (minutes upon his return), back to back and those kinds off things. The doctors don't feel he's in any harm's way of continuing to play. The All-Star game, I don't have all the details of what that would look like, but he would be cleared to participate."

The report is perhaps the best case scenario for LaVine, who five years ago this month tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. After that season, he was traded to the Bulls in the Jimmy Butler transaction. Subsequently, LaVine made perhaps the most remarkable and impressive return from the most serious of knee surgeries.

The two-time All-Star slam dunk competition winner resumed, at least in-game, spectacular dunking that belied the severity of his surgery. No NBA player but LaVine has returned from that surgery to attack the air above the rim like LaVine has.

And in the process, despite carrying the Bulls through several years of rebuilding, LaVine became an All-Star and last summer a member of the USA Basketball Olympic gold medal winning team. LaVine this season was named an All-Star reserve to join teammate DeMar DeRozan, who was selected as a starter for Sunday's game in Cleveland that also celebrates the NBA's 75th anniversary.

Zach LaVine made his second career All-Star game this season.

LaVine appeared to be breezing through another superb season when he landed awkwardly early in the Jan. 14 loss to Golden State. He left the game after playing about three minutes. At the time, LaVine was averaging 25.6 points and in the top 10 in the league in scoring along with DeRozan. He was shooting 49 percent overall and 41 percent on 3-pointers with 4.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists.

LaVine then sat out five games with the knee issue, returned for six games, but then sat out two more with what was described as back spasms. Though that seemed connected to the knee issues. LaVine then played three games, moving uneasily in the third against his former Minnesota team and scoring just 12 points.

In the nine games since leaving against Golden State, LaVine has averaged 23.1 points on 44 percent shooting and about 35 percent on threes. His rebounding and assists were up, suggesting he was looking to help the team in other ways.

Following the Timberwolves game Feb. 11, LaVine with the team's support decided to consult his surgeon in Los Angeles about the swelling in his left knee. Donovan said it has been extant this season.

The diagnosis in Los Angeles seemed encouraging to everyone.

"It wasn't anything they feel they need to do anything else," Donovan related. "Adding lubricant and just trying to get him comfortable was the main thing I had heard. I spoke to him. He was in really good spirits. He felt it was a really, really good visit. Feels, I think, at a good place mentally; he'll be ready to go.

"They probably did do that (drain fluid) when they removed some of the swelling," Donovan confirmed. "That was part of the problem. There were certain times after games he'd get some swelling. It wasn't anything substantial. It was a little bit of swelling, fluid I guess, that was drained. And they put lubricant in there to try to help him manage that swelling that occurs to maybe give him some extra support there. I think everybody felt really, really good with the way the meeting went."

LaVine's presence, certainly, remains vital for the Bulls. Even with the recent setbacks, he is close to a 50/40/90 shooting pace for the season, averaging 24.6 points, which is 13th in the league, and shooting 48.2 percent overall, 39.9 percent on 3-pointers and 86.9 percent on free throws. Wednesday's game is the 12th he's missing this season.

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Zach LaVine medically cleared to return

The comment you most often hear when players are discussing injuries is they'll listen to their body.

I wonder if Zach LaVine's body said, "Enough with the dunking, already."

LaVine has missed the last two games after leaving the Golden State game last Friday with a knee issue after a few minutes. LaVine felt uncomfortable after an offensive rebound, and the sighs of relief were for an MRI the Bulls said showed no structural damage.

The Bulls haven't said yet when LaVine will return.

I hope when he does we've basically seen the end of his vibrant and flamboyant slam dunking.

I've never made it my business to tell players how to play. Even if a few have offered me writing suggestions at times, sometimes about where I could shove that story. And I'm not supposed to be worried about the players, though LaVine makes that difficult being so gracious, welcoming and especially talented.

He's endured almost five years with the Bulls with unusual and appealing aplomb despite too many coaching, management and player changes, and way too many losses. So many that despite finally beginning to receive the acclaim due his marvelous talents with an All-Star selection and an Olympic gold medal, LaVine is at the top of the active list for most games played without being in a playoff game.

Zach LaVine going through pregame introductions

That should end this season with the Bulls halfway through the season holding a percentage points first place lead over Miami in the Eastern Conference going into Wednesday's home game with Cleveland. Alex Caruso should return from injury and virus absence, though Lonzo Ball remains out, likely with LaVine.

LaVine has been unusually candid in recent seasons about never playing in a meaningful game. At least during an NBA regular season after the Olympics. He's always said his main priority is winning even as doubters pointed to his gaudy statistics and losses.

But if there's any more proof that's needed he prioritizes winning, he's shown that this season the way he's not only welcomed DeMar DeRozan, but so often has stepped aside to allow DeRozan to be the star of the team at the end of games.

And LaVine still is among the leading scorers in the NBA at 24.9 points per game.

This Bulls team, assuming it returns to full health, has shown it can make a serious run in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls need Zach for that; Zach perhaps needs that even more than the Bulls.

Which is not to say dunking will cause issues, though I, like most Bulls fans, still wince over the fate of Derrick Rose. Rose wasn't injured dunking, and his ACL tear and subsequent MCL injures may have occurred anyway. But you always got the sense the strain and torque Rose put on his body and joints with his high flying, spectacular game was worrisome. His injury in the first game of the 2012 playoffs was probably the worst I ever felt at an NBA game. And that included even after spoiled pinto beans in the Houston press room.

It's about two weeks from the fifth anniversary of LaVine's ACL tear when he was still with Minnesota and coming off winning two All-Star weekend slam dunk contests. He was one of the most exciting young players in the game.

His return from that surgery has been nothing short of miraculous and really unprecedented, a further validation of the work he puts in and commitment to his craft.

Zach LaVine's great stretch from October-to-December

Many players have returned to star status after ACL surgery. No one in the history of the NBA has returned after ACL surgery to sky and dunk again like LaVine does. Every time you see one of those breakaway double pumps or 360s or power slams you'd have to see the x-rays to be convinced he once had the most serious knee surgery.

That LaVine plays with such confidence, daring and elan is further testament to his drive and toughness.

But does he really have to continue to do that?

Was his knee telling him something last week?

I've never been a fan of dunking, and not only because I never could do it.

I know it's popular and what gets you on the nightly TV highlight show. Often they'll show a wild dunk and then mumble something about the team losing by 30. And the dunks also are what often get your teammates breaking into pantomimes of heart attacks watching the amazing feats.

Zach LaVine skies for a dunk against Nerlens Noel (right) and the Knicks

But many of the best players in the NBA rarely dunk.

Stephen Curry doesn't, and we think he can. We're sure Kevin Durant can, but he rarely does. Same with James Harden, Trae Young and, oh yeah, MVP candidate DeRozan. Sometimes a dunk is necessary, like on a breakaway being chased. Jamming that ball through the basket avoids the block and missed layup.

But mostly it's for show, and worth the same two points.

I get when you are young and trying to get noticed and maybe make a name for yourself. At one time, it was considered a momentum changer for your team. Not so much anymore with all the 3-pointers flying around.

I know Rose can dunk, but he chooses not to anymore and has remained a highly productive player. And he can't shoot like LaVine.

It would be great to see the Bulls return to the playoffs this season for the first time in five years. If you don't tell anyone, I'm rooting for it for Zach more. They've got their memories. He doesn't have any yet.

LaVine will be 27 in March and is in his eighth NBA season. He has extraordinary basketball skills with his shooting, passing, ball handling and the ability to get to the basket past defenders. The dunk is the cherry on top of his skills sundae. But aren't those maraschino cherries dyed and said to be potentially harmful?

I'm sure LaVine will do what he feels most comfortable with when he returns from his absence. He's become one of the best players in the NBA doing it his way without consulting me. I just hope his body isn't trying to call him and getting a busy signal.

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Sam Smith: Zach LaVine's daring dunks should retire...for now

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