Zach LaVine facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Zach LaVine

LaVine at the 2022 NBA All-Star Weekend
No. 8 – Sacramento Kings
Shooting guard
Personal information
Born	(1995-03-10) March 10, 1995 (age 30) Renton, Washington, U.S.
High school	Bothell (Bothell, Washington)
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
College	UCLA (2013–2014)
NBA Draft	2014 / Round: 1 / Pick: 13th overall
Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Pro career	2014–present
League	NBA
Career history
2014–2017	Minnesota Timberwolves
2017–2025	Chicago Bulls
2025–present	Sacramento Kings
Career highlights and awards
2× NBA All-Star (2021, 2022) NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2015) 2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (2015, 2016) Pac-12 All-Freshman Team (2014) First-team Parade All-American (2013) AP Washington Player of the Year (2013) Washington Mr. Basketball (2013)
Medals Men's basketball Representing the  United States Olympic Games Gold 2020 Tokyo Team

Zachary Thomas LaVine (/ləˈviːn/ LƏ-veen; born March 10, 1995) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Sacramento Kings in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was chosen as the 13th player in the 2014 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Zach LaVine is known for his amazing dunks. He won the Slam Dunk Contest twice. He was also named an NBA All-Star in 2021 and 2022 while playing for the Chicago Bulls. In 2021, he won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team at the Tokyo Olympics.

LaVine grew up in the Seattle area. He was named the best high school player in his state. He played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins for one season. After college, he joined the NBA. As a rookie, he won the Slam Dunk Contest and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. In 2016, he became one of only four NBA players to win the dunk contest two years in a row. He played for the Chicago Bulls for eight seasons before joining the Sacramento Kings in 2025.

Early Life and Basketball Dreams

Zach LaVine was born in Renton, Washington, a suburb of Seattle. His parents were both athletes. His dad, Paul, played American football professionally. His mom, CJ, was a softball player.

When Zach was about five years old, he became interested in basketball. He watched Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan in the movie Space Jam. Later, he also became a fan of Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant. He tried to play like his childhood heroes.

Zach practiced a lot in his family's backyard. His dad made him practice shooting like in the NBA's Three-Point Shootout. He went to Bothell High School in Bothell, Washington. He played point guard and was the main player who handled the ball. By his junior year, he was 6 feet 3 inches tall. He would practice dunking for hours after his shooting practice.

In his senior year, he scored about 28.5 points per game. He was named the best player in Washington state in 2013. He was also recognized as a top high school player across the country. He even won a slam dunk contest at a special high school all-star game.

College Basketball Journey

On June 20, 2012, Zach LaVine decided to play college basketball for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). He played for coach Steve Alford. Zach's dad was a big fan of Bruins basketball, so Zach felt a connection to the team.

LaVine shooting against Stanford in 2014

In his first year at UCLA (2013–14), Zach started strong. He was often the team's "sixth man," meaning he came off the bench to provide a spark. He showed off his great outside shooting and powerful dunks. Many experts thought he would be a high pick in the 2014 NBA draft. He averaged 9.4 points per game that season. He made 48 three-point shots, which was the second most by a freshman at UCLA. Even with some tough games later in the season, he was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.

On April 16, 2014, he decided to enter the NBA draft. This meant he would not play his last three years of college basketball.

Professional Basketball Career

Minnesota Timberwolves (2014–2017)

The Minnesota Timberwolves picked Zach LaVine as the 13th player in the 2014 NBA draft. He signed his first contract with the team on July 8, 2014. Early in his first season, he got more playing time when the starting point guard was injured. On December 6, he scored 22 points and had 10 assists against the San Antonio Spurs. This was his first "double-double" (getting double digits in two stats).

In February 2015, LaVine won the Slam Dunk Contest during the 2015 NBA All-Star Weekend. He was the youngest player to win it since Kobe Bryant in 1997. He got perfect scores on his first two dunks. He also played in the Rising Stars Challenge that weekend. On April 11, he scored a season-high 37 points. For the season, he averaged 10.1 points per game. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

LaVine (middle) defending against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016

In the 2015–16 season, LaVine continued to improve. He scored a season-high 26 points in November and 28 points in December. During the 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend, he scored 30 points in the Rising Stars Challenge and was named MVP. He also won the Slam Dunk Contest again, becoming the fourth player ever to win it two years in a row. His final round against Aaron Gordon was very exciting.

In the 2016–17 season, LaVine scored a career-high 37 points on November 9. On December 23, he scored 40 points. However, on February 4, 2017, he had to stop playing for the rest of the season. He had torn a ligament in his left knee and needed surgery.

Chicago Bulls (2017–2025)

First Seasons and Becoming a Star

On June 22, 2017, LaVine was traded to the Chicago Bulls. He joined the Bulls along with two other players.

On January 13, 2018, LaVine played his first game in 11 months after his knee surgery. He scored 14 points in a win against the Detroit Pistons. On February 9, he scored a season-high 35 points against his old team, the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In July 2018, LaVine signed a new four-year contract with the Bulls. He started the 2018–19 season by scoring at least 30 points in his first three games. This made him only the third Bulls player to do so, after Michael Jordan and Bob Love. On November 5, he scored a career-high 41 points, including the winning free throw in double overtime. He scored 20 or more points in 15 straight games, a career best.

On February 23, 2019, he scored a new career-high of 42 points. On March 1, he scored 47 points in a very high-scoring game that went into four overtimes. He missed the end of the season due to leg injuries. He led the Bulls in points scored that season.

In the 2019–20 season, LaVine continued to score a lot of points. On November 23, 2019, he scored a career-high 49 points. He made 13 three-point shots, including the game-winning shot with seconds left. On January 25, 2020, he had 44 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists. He was the leading scorer for the Bulls in 42 of their 65 games that season.

All-Star Selections and Playoffs

On February 10, 2021, LaVine scored a season-high 46 points. He was playing very well and was named an NBA All-Star for the first time on February 24, 2021. This was the first Bulls player chosen as an All-Star since 2017. On April 9, LaVine scored a new career-high of 50 points. For the season, he averaged a career-high 27.4 points per game, which was seventh best in the NBA. He also had career highs in rebounds, assists, and shooting percentages.

On November 19, 2021, LaVine scored 36 points against the Denver Nuggets. On February 3, 2022, he was named an All-Star again. He played through a knee injury that season but still played in many games. The Bulls made the playoffs for the first time since 2017, which was LaVine's first time in the postseason. The Bulls lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in five games. In May, LaVine had surgery on his left knee. In July, he signed a new five-year contract with the Bulls.

On December 4, 2022, LaVine scored 41 points against the Sacramento Kings. On December 30, he scored a season-high 43 points. On January 6, 2023, LaVine scored 41 points and made 11 three-pointers in a win. This was his fourth game with at least 40 points and 70% shooting, which is second most in Bulls history. On March 17, LaVine scored 39 points, and his teammate DeMar DeRozan scored 49 points. Their combined 88 points were the most ever by two Bulls players in one game.

On October 28, 2023, LaVine scored a career-high 51 points in a game against the Detroit Pistons. In February 2024, the Bulls announced that LaVine would have surgery on his right foot. This meant he would miss the rest of the season.

On November 29, 2024, LaVine scored 29 points. He also made his 1,051st three-pointer as a Bull. This made him the all-time leader in three-pointers made for the Bulls team, passing Kirk Hinrich.

Sacramento Kings (2025–Present)

On February 3, 2025, Zach LaVine was traded to the Sacramento Kings. He joined the Kings as part of a trade that also involved the San Antonio Spurs. On February 24, LaVine scored a season-high 42 points in a big win against the Charlotte Hornets.

Playing for Team USA

Zach LaVine was chosen to play for Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. The Olympics were held in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He often came off the bench as the team's "sixth man." He averaged 10.6 points per game. He was also good at passing and shooting three-pointers. LaVine and Team USA won the Olympic gold medal in men's basketball.

Personal Life

In March 2016, Zach LaVine appeared as a guest star on an episode of the Disney XD TV show Kirby Buckets.

In April 2020, LaVine got engaged to his longtime girlfriend. Their first child, a son named Saint Thomas Lavine, was born in August 2022.

Career Statistics

NBA Regular Season

NBA Playoffs

College Statistics

See also

In Spanish: Zach LaVine para niños