Zach LaVine
Birthdate: March 10, 1995 (Renton, Wash.)
School: Bothell (Bothell, Wash.) Class: 2014 (OFFICIAL) Height: 6'5" Weight: 180 NBA Position: PG/SG NBA Comparison: Gerald Green Strengths: Shooting, Athleticism, Explosiveness Weaknesses: Intangibles, Weight |
Scouting Report 1.0 — 05.09.2014 (Joseph Fafinski)
The numbers aren’t all that gaudy and he's an unproven commodity, but Zach LaVine seems like a player whose strengths would benefit some team at the professional level. One reason his stats weren’t jaw dropping in his only season at UCLA is due to the fact that he only saw 24 minutes per game. NBA scouts love athleticism, and LaVine is undoubtedly elite in this aspect. The 6’5 combo guard is explosive off the dribble, and his catch and shoot rivals any of the draft hopefuls. His three-point shot, especially from the corner, is deadly when he’s not covered. These traits lead me to believe he’s something of a Gerald Green-type, only shorter.
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As is the case with Green, LaVine’s defense is okay when he’s inspired but he doesn’t knock players over with his strength and often shows flashes of immaturity. If he bulks up his 185-pound frame, that could change and he could be a sneaky good pro. It should be noted, however, that Green was able to turn around his career once he started caring about the little things in basketball rather than throwing down meaningless jams in the waning moments of garbage time. LaVine is able to contribute both at the one and two, as evidenced in southern California.
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In the NBA, sometimes this works (see: Victor Oladipo) and sometimes it doesn't. Around Christmas time, it seemed he was headed to the lottery. Disappointing showings from the Bruin, notably when he scored just three points in two NCAA tournament games, have scouts collectively scratching their heads. I do see Zach LaVine as a decent pro, as long as he tweaks the aforementioned aspects of his game. Lastly, I encourage all of you to watch this kid dunk. It’s pretty mesmerizing knowing he's just 19 years old.
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