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Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls.
The Chicago Bulls failed to have an All-Star this season, which hasn’t happened since 2019-20. Fans were disappointed not only because of this absence but also because Zach LaVine, specifically, was not present.
Fans reminisced about the 2016 dunk contest between Zach LaVine and Aaron Gordon, which was considered the last great dunk contest. One fan on X, Formerly Twitter, expressed, “the year is 2016 and everyone said ‘get rid of the dunk contest’ so Zach Lavine and Aaron Gordon gave us one last hurrah and made sure of it.” Another fan echoed this sentiment, stating, “The LAST good Dunk Contest was in 2016 — Zach Lavine vs Aaron Gordon.”
Another fan mentioned that Zach LaVine’s performance in the 2015 Slam Dunk Contest was underappreciated. They said, “We don’t appreciate Zach LaVine enough.” Yet another fan requested a rerun of the Zach LaVine vs Aaron Gordon contest for the next year.
Unfortunately, LaVine was unable to participate or attend the events due to foot surgery, which ended his season. This surgery also put an end to the trade rumors surrounding him. It marked the end of a disappointing campaign for the two-time All-Star.
Despite being in the second year of a lucrative contract, LaVine’s future with the Bulls remains uncertain.
In 2021, Mac McClung, a G League player for the Orlando Magic, became the first player since LaVine to win back-to-back dunk contests. McClung previously won as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers organization. He has also spent time with the Bulls’ organization, signing two 10-day contracts during the 2021-22 season. McClung gave a shoutout to LaVine after winning last season’s contest.
Mac McClung successfully defended his title in the 2024 NBA Dunk Contest, defeating Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics. This is the second year that G League players have been allowed to participate in the contest, which has lacked star power for over a decade.
Former Bulls player Denzel Valentine didn’t have a great lead-up to the All-Star weekend. On Valentine’s Day, the NBC Sports Chicago Bulls Talk social media team shared a clip of Valentine air-balling a three-pointer in the closing minute of a five-point contest against the Miami Heat, along with a message wishing fans a happy Valentine’s Day.
In a recent clip, Bulls commentator Stacey King expressed his frustration with Valentine’s shot selection. Valentine, however, defended himself by pointing out that he is among the top 15 all-time in Bulls history for three-pointers made. Despite limited minutes on the court, Valentine has made a significant impact.
Valentine, who was the No. 14 overall draft pick in 2016, has played five seasons with the Bulls. His most recent appearance in the NBA was during the 2021-22 season with the Utah Jazz. During the previous season, he played in the G League with the Maine Red Claws, the Boston Celtics affiliate.
Josh Buckhalter is a sports reporter who covers the NBA and NFL.
According to the Source heavy.com