Bulls coach Billy Donovan sees All-Star value in Zach LaVine and Vooch
INDIANAPOLIS – The early fan voting wasn’t expected to bring back good returns for Nikola Vucevic or Zach LaVine.
The Bulls duo wasn’t built for the popular vote.
If they are to become 2025 NBA All-Stars they’re going to need the voting from the media or players to help lift them. Their version of the electoral college.
Call Billy Donovan the ultimate campaign manager.
“You get a chance to see those guys play every night and there’s no question in my mind, just based on what these guys have performed through – whatever it is 35 or 36 games – they have performed at an All-Star level,” Donovan said on Wednesday. “Both of those two have. I think the stats will back that up.”
The Bulls coach wasn’t wrong about that.
Besides New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns, few centers in the East have the all-around numbers Vucevic has posted, thanks to his 20.5 scoring average and his 10.2 rebounds per game, all while shooting 42.4% from three-point range entering the game against the Pacers.
Yet with the first fan voting results coming in last week, no sign of Vucevic anywhere in the top 10. It doesn’t help his cause that centers are lumped into the “frontcourt” category, but even then centers like Towns, Joel Embiid and Evan Mobley earned spots.
Meanwhile, LaVine’s 23.1 points per game was 14th in the East for guards, but how many players in front of LaVine were also shooting 50.9% from the field and at least 44.7% from three-point range. The answer was simple: None.
That was the hill Donovan firmly had his heel dug into.
“What Zach has shot from the three-point line, what he’s shot from the field,” Donovan said. “I think he’s taken on a lot of defensive challenges. He’s played both ends of the floor.
“I think Vooch, historically if you were to look at his numbers, up to this point he has shot the ball probably at a career rate for him and he’s been an All-Star before. No doubt I feel those guys should definitely be under consideration to make the All-Star Game.”
The next batch of fan results were expected out on Thursday. LaVine and Vucevic shouldn’t hold their breath, however, especially LaVine.
Missing almost half the season last year with foot surgery has still been a tough narrative to overcome.
“It’s unfortunately out of sight, out of mind so to speak,” Donovan added. “Certainly, he has established himself as this is what he’s done for a good portion of his career when you look at his numbers.”
Ramped up
Ayo Dosunmu cleared a big hurdle in his rehabilitation for an injured right calf, running on the treadmill pain-free.
According to Donovan, the guard was now in position to start cutting and sprinting, and if all goes well it will be just a matter of getting him a few full-contact scrimmages.
“I don’t have an exact date he’ll be ready, but they’ll start ramping him up,” Donovan said. “He’s been able to get past (running). (Cutting) will start to happen now. We’ll see how he responds to that.”
Dosunmu has now missed seven games with the injury.
Slowed down
The news wasn’t as promising for Torrey Craig, who suffered a nerve injury in his knee. While Donovan did say the veteran reserve forward was improving, rest is the only way for it to totally heal.
There was still no definitive timetable for his return, however.