Zach LaVine wasn’t voted by coaches to represent the Eastern Conference in February’s All-Star game in Chicago, but it wasn’t for lack of pushing.
This January, LaVine enjoyed the best individual month of his playing career amid mounting team-wide adversity, posting averages of 28.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.5 steals per game on 46.3% shooting (33.3% from 3-point range, dragged down by a late-month lull).
Embedded in that stat line are a handful of historic performances and feats of impressive strength. Though the Bulls went just 6-11 in the month, it was a memorable four-week stretch for LaVIne, nevertheless.
Here is an attempt at summating that stretch with some numbers of note. Bulleted for brevity:
-
Zach LaVine played 626 minutes in January, the most by any player in the NBA. Much of that has to do with the Bulls tying a league high with 17 games played — still, his 36.8 minutes per contest last month ranked fourth in the league.
-
In those 626 minutes, LaVine scored 485 points (2nd in the NBA), made 175 shots on 378 attempts (both 1st); 49 3-pointers (t-5th) on 145 attempts (2nd); and 86 free throws (8th) on 104 attempts (10th).
-
He also had 26 steals (t-8th).
-
On Jan. 2, LaVine scored 26 points in a loss to Utah. He hasn’t scored under 20 points in a game since. That means in every game of 2020, LaVine has scored at least 20.
-
That streak of 17 games with 20 or more points is the most by a Bull since Michael Jordan ripped 24 straight in 1996-97.
-
Jordan had 15 20-point streaks longer than 17 games in his career, the longest a 72-gamer from Dec. 29, 1987 to Dec. 6, 1998.
-
Sorry, got distracted there.
-
LaVine had three 40-point games in January. Only Damian Lillard and Trae Young, with four each, had more. James Harden also had three.
-
In his three 40-point games, LaVine averaged 43 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4 assists and 2.3 steals on 58.3% shooting (48.4% from 3-point range). When he’s on, he’s on.
-
Two of those three outings came on the second night of back-to-backs.
-
Against the Cavaliers on Jan. 18, LaVine joined Jordan as the only players in franchise history to post minimums of 42 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals and 3 assists in a game.
-
The Bulls were 2-1 in January when LaVine scored over 40 and 3-4 when he scored over 30. The team went 6-11 in the month, overall.
-
In six January wins, LaVine averaged 31.5 points per game on 49% shooting (37.7% from 3-point range).
-
In 11 January losses, LaVine averaged 26.9 points per game on 44.6% shooting (31.5% from 3-point range).
-
LaVine and Ben Simmons were the only two guards with more than 20 dunks in January. LaVine's 26 slams ranked 15th in the NBA over the span, and is three more than Giannis Antetokounmpo's 23.
-
LaVine's 69 total points in the fast break (via NBA.com) was tied for second in the NBA with LeBron James in January. (Per game: 4.1 points, 9th in NBA)
-
His 85 total points off turnovers was first in the league. (Per game: 5 points, t-3rd in NBA)
-
His 224 total points in the paint ranked second only to Simmons. (Per game: 13.2, 14th)
-
LaVine attempted more shots in the restricted area (168) than any NBA.com-defined guard in January.
-
Of guards who attempted six or more restricted area FGA per game (LaVine took 9.9), LaVine shot the sixth-highest percentage, 63.7%. Only Luka Doncic, Simmons, De'Aaron Fox, Derrick Rose and Ja Morant were more efficient.
-
LaVine led the Bulls in scoring in 15 of 17 January games.
-
LaVine averaged 28.5 points (9th in the NBA) and 22.2 field goal attempts (4th) per game in January.
-
The next closest Bull in each category was Lauri Markkanen, who averaged 14.8 points (89th) and 12 field goal attempts (86th) per game. Markkanen hasn’t played since Jan. 22.
-
After LaVine’s 485 total points in January (2nd), the next closest Bull was Thad Young, who scored 184 (97th).
-
After LaVine’s 378 field goal attempts in January (1st), the next closest Bull was Coby White, who took 164 (75th).
-
After Wendell Carter Jr. went down on Jan. 6, LaVine led the Bulls in rebounding for the rest of the month with 4.9 per game and 69, overall.
-
In January, the Bulls offensive rating slipped from 109.5 with LaVine on the floor to 96.3 with him off.
-
In January, the Bulls’ team-wide true shooting percentage — which measures shooting efficiency by factoring in field goals, 3-pointers and free throws — fell from 57% to 52.3% when LaVine sat. That’s an equivalent dropoff from the eighth-ranked team in the NBA to the 30th.
-
In January, the Bulls’ team-wide assist-to-turnover ratio dropped from 1.74 to 1.2 when LaVine sat. That’s an equivalent dropoff from the 12th-ranked team in the NBA to last (by a lot).
-
If their current averages hold up (and barring injury), LaVine and the Wizards’ Bradley Beal will be the first Eastern Conference players to average 25 or more points per game over a full season and not make an All-Star team since Michael Redd in 2006-07.
Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Bulls easily on your device.