Zach LaVine makes Bulls debut scores 14 in 107
Zach LaVine
The lights were low  the crowd was roaring and  his  Bulls teammates jumped around like school kids during introductions Saturday night at the United Center.
The scene had played out 20 times previously this season  but this one was special. This one featured  Zach LaVine  right in the middle of it.
Capping a journey that began 11 months ago when  he  suffered a torn ACL in  his  left knee while playing for the Timberwolves   LaVine  made  his  season debut during the Bullsâ 107-105 victory over the Pistons. Trading in street clothes for  his  home red Bulls uniform   LaVine  was the last of the five Bulls starters introduced to the delight of the 21 613 in attendance.
 LaVine  had been ready for this moment for weeks  but all sides erred of the side of caution before Saturday nightâs big moment.
âItâs tough  especially when youâre sitting on the bench knowing you can help  in a suit jacket â  LaVine  said. âIâm glad I donât have to be over there anymore. Iâll be able to â¦ leave my paw prints on the game a little bit.â
It didnât take long for  LaVine  to use  his  paws in a positive way  as  he  drained  his  first shot as a Bull â a 3-pointer â 37 seconds into the game.  LaVine   who is on a 20-minute limit for at least the next week  finished with 14 points and two assists in 19 minutes.  He  shot 5-for-9 from the floor  making 3 of 4 3-pointers before sitting for the final quarter.
While  LaVine  took the court with confidence for  his  first game in nearly a year  and the 22-year-old hit  his  first two shots.
âItâs like riding a bike â  LaVine  said. âYou might wobble a bit  but I can get back going straight and going faster each and every game.â
For a Bulls team that entered Saturday with a 12-7 record since Dec. 8   LaVineâs  debut sent a surge of excitement throughout the group.
âItâs the last hurdle to clear for  Zach  in this process â Hoiberg said. âFor him finally to get out there and get this behind him I know is very important.â
âWe put this system in place with  Zach  in mind â Hoiberg said. âIt happened to fit some of the other guys with our spacing fours  with playing some lineups where we had two spacing front-line players out here. But to have wings that can get out and run in transition is a very big part of what we put in place and also having guys who can come off hand-offs and rise up and shoot the ball.
As the centerpiece of the draft-day trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves   LaVine  realizes expectations are high for a player who was averaging a career-high 18.9 points per game in 47 games last season before suffering  his  injury.
âThatâs what comes with the game â  LaVine  said. âYou bring that upon yourself. Iâm going to continue doing the same things. Iâm a very confident person  Iâm a team player first and ... Iâm just happy to be out there playing again. I play with a love for the game. Iâm going to come through and do my part.â
Zach LaVine's return gives Bulls full complement of players Â»
The lights were low  the crowd was roaring and  his  Bulls teammates jumped around like school kids during introductions Saturday night at the United Center.
The scene had played out 20 times previously this season  but this one was special. This one featured   [TGT]   right in the middle of it.
Capping a journey that began 11 months ago when  he  suffered a torn ACL in  his  left knee while playing for the Timberwolves   LaVine  made  his  season debut during the Bullsâ 107-105 victory over the Pistons. Trading in street clothes for  his  home red Bulls uniform   LaVine  was the last of the five Bulls starters introduced to the delight of the 21 613 in attendance.
 LaVine  had been ready for this moment for weeks  but all sides erred of the side of caution before Saturday nightâs big moment.
âItâs tough  especially when youâre sitting on the bench knowing you can help  in a suit jacket â  LaVine  said. âIâm glad I donât have to be over there anymore. Iâll be able to â¦ leave my paw prints on the game a little bit.â
It didnât take long for  LaVine  to use  his  paws in a positive way  as  he  drained  his  first shot as a Bull â a 3-pointer â 37 seconds into the game.  LaVine   who is on a 20-minute limit for at least the next week  finished with 14 points and two assists in 19 minutes.  He  shot 5-for-9 from the floor  making 3 of 4 3-pointers before sitting for the final quarter.
While  LaVine  took the court with confidence for  his  first game in nearly a year  and the 22-year-old hit  his  first two shots.
âItâs like riding a bike â  LaVine  said. âYou might wobble a bit  but I can get back going straight and going faster each and every game.â
For a Bulls team that entered Saturday with a 12-7 record since Dec. 8   LaVineâs  debut sent a surge of excitement throughout the group.
âItâs the last hurdle to clear for  Zach  in this process â Hoiberg said. âFor him finally to get out there and get this behind him I know is very important.â
âWe put this system in place with  Zach  in mind â Hoiberg said. âIt happened to fit some of the other guys with our spacing fours  with playing some lineups where we had two spacing front-line players out here. But to have wings that can get out and run in transition is a very big part of what we put in place and also having guys who can come off hand-offs and rise up and shoot the ball.
As the centerpiece of the draft-day trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves   LaVine  realizes expectations are high for a player who was averaging a career-high 18.9 points per game in 47 games last season before suffering  his  injury.
âThatâs what comes with the game â  LaVine  said. âYou bring that upon yourself. Iâm going to continue doing the same things. Iâm a very confident person  Iâm a team player first and ... Iâm just happy to be out there playing again. I play with a love for the game. Iâm going to come through and do my part.â
 [TGT] 's return gives Bulls full complement of players Â»