So, I was thinking about Zach LaVine the other day, specifically his time way back with the Minnesota Timberwolves. It feels like a different era now, right? I decided to actually dig back into that period, kinda relive it a bit.
First thing I did was pull up some old footage. Not just the dunk contest stuff, though obviously, that was a huge part of it. Man, the hype was real after those wins. But I wanted to see the actual in-game stuff from his rookie and sophomore years. I spent a good chunk of time just watching grainy clips and full game replays I had saved or found floating around.
What really jumped out, looking back, was just the raw, almost untamed athleticism. You could see the flashes, the incredible speed bursts, the potential for that smooth jumper. But it was inconsistent, you know? One game he’d look like a future star, the next he’d struggle. Defence was definitely a work in progress, which wasn’t surprising for a young guy drafted mostly on potential.
I remember watching those games live back then. There was this mix of excitement and frustration. You saw the ceiling, it was sky-high, especially when paired with Wiggins and Towns later on. We were all thinking, “Okay, this is the core, this is the future.”
Digging through some old notes and stats I kept track of back then, it was clear the scoring was there, but the efficiency wasn’t always great in the beginning. Lots of tough shots, still figuring out the NBA game speed and how to be effective consistently, not just spectacularly.
- The dunks were obviously insane from day one.
- The shooting form looked good, but the shot selection needed time.
- He played hard, you could see the effort, even if the results weren’t always there.
It’s kinda fascinating to look at that Minnesota version of LaVine now, knowing the player he became in Chicago. You see the building blocks were there. That time with the Wolves, learning under coaches like Flip Saunders (RIP) and later Thibs, dealing with injuries… it all shaped him. It wasn’t always pretty, and the team didn’t win much, but that experience, those reps, they were crucial.
So yeah, that was my little trip down memory lane. Just pulling up the old stuff, watching the plays, remembering the feeling around the team back then. It’s wild how much players can grow and change. That Minnesota chapter was definitely a key part of his story.
