The 2021-22 NBA season is on the horizon as media days and training camps are approaching on the calendar.
Before the season begins, it’s only right to kick off a new NBA campaign with player rankings, which ESPN has put together with their NBArank.
On Wednesday, players 50-26 were released, including Chicago Bulls All-Star Zach LaVine at No. 33, rising 23 spots higher from last year’s ESPN’s NBArank. LaVine was also ranked No. 29 in Sports Illustrated’s top 100 rankings.
Nick Friedell of ESPN elaborates on LaVine’s ranking:
“Is LaVine on a superstar trajectory? As a first-time All-Star who continues to improve, all signs point to him landing a max deal next summer. The question for LaVine isn’t whether the money will be there, but whether he can be the type of player who can lead his team to a postseason berth. The Bulls made moves to improve the core around the 26-year-old in acquiring DeRozan and Lonzo Ball, but now LaVine must show he can take his own game to a winning level.”
Last season with the Bulls, LaVine averaged a career-high 27.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.
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