Zach LaVine
 LaVine against Stanford Cardinal. | |
| No. 8 – Minnesota Timberwolves | |
|---|---|
| Position | Shooting guard |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 10, 1995 Renton, Washington |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 183 lb (83 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Bothell (Bothell, Washington) |
| College | UCLA (2013–2014) |
| NBA draft | 2014: 1st round, 13th overall pick |
| Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves | |
| Playing career | 2014–present |
| Career history | |
| 2014–present | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Zachary LaVine (born March 10, 1995) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA. He played college basketball for UCLA. He grew up in Washington, where he was honored as the state's top high school player. In his first year with UCLA in 2013–14, he was named one of the top freshman in the Pacific-12 Conference. Following his freshman season, LaVine declared his eligibility for the 2014 NBA draft.
Early life
LaVine was born in Renton, Washington, to athletic parents. His father, Paul, played American football professionally in the United States Football League (USFL) and National Football League (NFL), and his mother, CJ, was a softball player.[1][2] LaVine attended Bothell High School in Bothell, Washington.[1] Playing point guard, he was their primary ball handler.[3] In his senior year, he averaged 28.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game, and was named the 2013 Associated Press Washington state player of the year and Washington Mr. Basketball;[1] however, he only received limited national recognition.[3]
College career
On June 20, 2012, LaVine verbally committed to attending UCLA and playing for coach Ben Howland for the 2013 season.[4] After Howland was fired nine months later, LaVine considered staying in-state and attending the University of Washington instead. However, he decided to remain with UCLA and their new coach, Steve Alford; LaVine had inherited an affection for UCLA from his father, who grew up a fan of Bruins basketball while growing up in nearby San Bernardino, California.[5]
After a strong start to 2013–14 as the team's sixth man, featuring an impressive display of outside shooting and explosive dunks, the former point guard LaVine evoked memories of UCLA alumnus Russell Westbrook's beginnings.[3] NBA draft pundits began ranking LaVine high on their projections for the 2014 NBA Draft if he declared himself eligible.[3][6] ESPN.com draft expert Chad Ford attributed LaVine's appeal to the Westbrook comparisons. At one point, Ford listed him as the 10th overall pick, while NBADraft.net ranked him fifth.[3] During the season, LaVine typically entered the game with Bryce Alford, who usually handled the ball, while starter Kyle Anderson was the team's main facilitator.[3] During a six-game span beginning on January 26, 2014, he endured a shooting slump where he made just 7 of 36 shots from the field.[5] He averaged 9.4 points per game during the season, fourth best on the team, and his 48 three-point field goals made were the second most by a freshman in the school's history.[7] However, LaVine did not reach double-figures in scoring in 14 of the final 18 games,[8] and totaled just 11 points and was 0 for 8 on three-point attempts in the final five games.[9] Despite his late-season struggles, he was voted to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team,[10][11] and he was named with Bryce Alford as the team's most valuable freshmen.[7]
On April 16, 2014, he declared for the NBA draft, foregoing his final three years of college eligibility.[12]
NBA career
On June 26, 2014, LaVine was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft and signed his rookie scale contract on July 8, 2014.[13]
References
- ^ a b c "Zach LaVine bio". UCLABruins.com. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
- ^ Kelley, Mason (November 30, 2011). "Bothell's Zach LaVine shoots for the top". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d e f Mays, Robert (February 27, 2014). "Swinging on the NBA Draft Yo-Yo". Grantland.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2014.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Zach LaVine - UCLA Basketball's First 2013 Commitment". Jun 21, 2012. Retrieved Feb 19, 2014.
- ^ a b Wang, Jack (March 5, 2014). "UCLA basketball notes: Zach LaVine shaking off slump in time for Washington homecoming". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on March 7, 2014.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ UCLA's Zach LaVine is dunking his way to the NBA
- ^ a b "UCLA Basketball Announces Year-End Honors at Team Banquet". UCLA Athletics. May 5, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
- ^ Wang, Jack (March 28, 2014). "UCLA freshman Zach LaVine to declare for NBA draft". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Wang, Jack (April 3, 2014). "UCLA men's basketball gains and losses in Steve Alford's first season". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on April 3, 2014.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Kartje, Ryan (March 10, 2014). "Anderson, Adams named to All-Pac-12 first team". Orange County Register. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "2013-14 Pac-12 Conference Men's Basketball Honors" (Press release). Pac-12 Conference. March 10, 2014. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014.
{{cite press release}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ UCLA's Zach LaVine Declares for NBA Draft , UCLABruins.com, April 16, 2014
- ^ Timberwolves Sign First-Round Pick Zach LaVine
External links
- Career statistics and player information from NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com
- UCLA Bruins bio