Of course Zach LaVine practiced for the Bulls on Thursday.
As did Lauri Markkanen.
Get used to it, boys.
On a day in which veterans Otto Porter and Thaddeus Young had scheduled off time, and Wendell Carter Jr. (tailbone contusion) was shut down after hitting the floor twice, LaVine and Markkanen were at it again. Every day so far, every drill, and no exceptions.
That’s what coach Jim Boylen has ordered for his two core players.
“Zach hasn’t missed a beat, Lauri is doing great,’’ Boylen said. “I told those guys they have to take every rep. I don’t want Zach and Lauri coming out of practice. They’ve got to take every rep, and they’ve been doing it.’’
The chase for greatness comes with a price.
The Bulls have made no secret about how they view Markkanen and LaVine this season, admittedly building the roster around those two so they can take the perceived next step toward stardom.
Boylen discussed LaVine again on Thursday, specifically getting him to play with an edge from tip to final horn.
“What we’ve talked about is his edge,’’ Boylen said. “He’s got to hit the paint in his first couple possessions and he’s got to try to get a layup, either running or getting to the rim on his first couple of possessions. Get himself going and just play with that edge, that athleticism that he has. Start the game angry. Start the game ready to prove, not just kind of feel your way into a game. Start the game forcing that thing. He’s been great. He’s been so coachable. We’ve already had a video session like we do and he was great. When he plays with an edge and he gets downhill and he attacks, I think he’s as good as anybody on the league.’’
LaVine won’t dispute that, either. But this is more about the guard not only working on his edge, but also developing into the leader and a winner. Two traits the Bulls have been hoping to see him excel at since they acquired him in the Jimmy Butler trade back in 2017.
Porter and Young are perfect Sherpas for that climb.
“The hardest thing in any sport is learning how to win,’’ LaVine said. “If it was easy, everybody would be a championship team. I think Thad does definitely bring some veteran leadership. Even Otto was in the playoffs and on a winning team when he got traded here. So you can always seek dudes like that for advice but we’ve got to learn how to win as a group. I don’t think one or two players can just help that because they came from winning cultures, but we’ve got to do it collectively.’’
Surprise endorsement
Further evidence of just how good a head space Kris Dunn is operating in at the start of this camp?
Even with Tomas Satoransky and Coby White brought in to try and take Dunn’s starting point guard job, Dunn had nothing but positive things to say about both, especially the rookie White.
“Really good player,’’ Dunn said. “He can shoot the ball. He’s working on his decision making. He’s doing a great job with that right now. And guarding. I think he’s going to be big-time for us.
“Sometimes he doesn’t want to step on any toes. Me, Arch [Ryan Arcidiacono], Satoransky, we’re trying to do a good job of not showing him the ropes but kind of teaching the things that people taught us.’’
