Zach LaVine has made himself an absolute star in the NBA, one of the few players that are so gifted that they can score in nearly every way on the basketball court. He is capable of the spectacular as well, something he has shown by winning the NBA Dunk Contest on two separate occasions. LaVine is effective as well as entertaining, something that has allowed him to be a part of the resurgence for the Chicago Bulls this season.
LaVine was named an NBA All-Star for the second consecutive year, and he is set to also take part in the NBA’s Three-Point Contest, a competition he has every chance of winning in the absence of players like Steph Curry and Joe Harris. This would be a great achievement for LaVine, who would become the first player in NBA history to have won the Dunk Contest as well as the Three-Point Contest during their career.
No player has ever won both the Dunk Contest and Three-Point Contest.
Zach LaVine is looking to become it for the third straight year.
Third time’s the charm? pic.twitter.com/9EhgFvUacK
— StatMuse (@statmuse) February 9, 2022
This is the third season in a row that LaVine is taking part in the competition as he chases this elusive but fun record, but his history in the three-point contest does not make great reading. LaVine has been bounced in the first round in 2020 as well as 2021, not even making it to the next level and earning a shot at the trophy.
He has the necessary skills to do it, Zach has turned himself into an elite shooter since he arrived in the NBA. After shooting just 34% from beyond the arc in his rookie season, LaVine has shot above 37% in every season since. He has improved even further recently, shooting an excellent 41% last season and just over 40% this season.
His All-Star Weekend history, in general, is great too, he won back-to-back dunk contests in 2015 and 2016, including a slightly contentious win over Aaron Gordon. In any case, considering that he has the confidence of being part of a winning team this season with the Bulls, maybe the third attempt will be the charm for LaVine in this particular competition.
