1. Zach LaVine Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Zachary Thomas LaVine |
| Date of birth | March 10, 1995 (age 31) |
| Birthplace | Renton, Washington (Seattle suburb) |
| Nationality | American |
| Current team | Sacramento Kings (since February 2025) |
| Position | Shooting guard |
| Jersey number | #8 |
| Height / weight | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) / 200 lb (about 91 kg) |
| High school | Bothell High School, Bothell, Washington |
| College | UCLA (2013-14, one season) |
| Draft | 2014, Round 1, Pick 13, Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Teams | Timberwolves (2014-17), Bulls (2017-25), Kings (2025-present) |
| All-Star selections | 2 (2021, 2022) |
| Slam Dunk Contest titles | 2 (2015, 2016) |
| NBA championships / Finals | 0 (no Finals appearances) |
| Olympic medals | 1 gold (Tokyo 2020 Games, played in 2021) |
| Career scoring average | 20.7 points per game over 693 games |
| Career high | 51 points (October 28, 2023, vs. Detroit) |
| Super Bowl appearances / wins | Not applicable (NBA player) |
| 2026-27 salary | About $48.9 million (player option exercised June 29, 2026) |
2. Who is Zach LaVine?(Biography)
If you’re searching for Zach LaVine facts, here’s the short version. He’s a 6-foot-5 guard who, as a rookie, won the 2015 NBA Slam Dunk Contest with two perfect-score dunks and beat Giannis Antetokounmpo in the final. He then repeated in 2016, in a duel with Aaron Gordon that fans still compare to the famous Jordan-Wilkins showdown of 1988.
Dunks are only part of the picture. Over 12 completed seasons, Zach LaVine has grown from a raw, athletic prospect into one of the league’s most dangerous scorers. He averaged 27.4 points per game in 2020-21, made two All-Star teams, and won an Olympic gold medal. He also became the Chicago Bulls’ all-time leader in three-pointers made.
This Zach LaVine biography covers his Seattle-area childhood, his one season at UCLA, his 2014 draft selection, his ACL tear, his trade to Chicago, his max contract, and his move to Sacramento. It also covers the 2025-26 season, which ended early with hand surgery, and what to expect as he enters the final guaranteed year of his deal.
Did You Know? Zach LaVine was one of the youngest Slam Dunk champions in history. Reports at the time compared his age to Kobe Bryant, who won at 18 in 1997.
3. Zach LaVine Early Life & Background
Zach LaVine was born on March 10, 1995, in Renton, Washington, near Seattle. His parents were both athletes. His father, Paul, played professional football in the USFL and the NFL. His mother, CJ, played softball. That mix of speed and power helps explain his build.
How He Got Into Basketball
Around age five, he became fascinated with basketball after seeing Michael Jordan in the movie Space Jam. As he got older, he also admired Kobe Bryant and shaped his game around both stars. It’s a fitting backstory for a player who would later become a Chicago Bull and, in some ways, a scoring heir to Jordan’s franchise.
The Backyard Training Ground
His father had him practice at home by recreating the NBA’s Three-Point Contest over and over. Those shooting reps showed up years later in his deep-range accuracy. As a teenager, he also spent hours dunking after his shooting sessions. That combination of shooting and hops became his calling card.
4. Zach LaVine High School & College Career
Bothell High School
Zach LaVine attended Bothell High School in the Seattle suburbs, where he played point guard and handled the ball. By his junior year he stood about 6 ft 3 in. As a senior he averaged 28.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
His senior-year honors included:
- Associated Press Washington Player of the Year (2013)
- Washington Mr. Basketball (2013)
- First-team Parade All-American
- Winner of the Ballislife All-American Game dunk contest
Rivals.com ranked him as a four-star recruit, the No. 12 shooting guard and No. 44 player nationally in the 2013 class.
The UCLA Decision
He committed to UCLA in June 2012 under coach Ben Howland. After Howland was fired and Steve Alford took over, Zach LaVine considered switching to the University of Washington but stayed with the Bruins. His father had grown up a UCLA basketball fan in San Bernardino, California.
One Season in Westwood
Here’s a quick view of his Zach LaVine college numbers for 2013-14:
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Games | 37 (1 start) |
| Minutes | 24.4 per game |
| Points | 9.4 per game |
| Rebounds | 2.5 per game |
| Assists | 1.8 per game |
| FG% / 3P% / FT% | .441 / .375 / .691 |
He came off the bench as a sixth man, and his three-point shooting and dunks drew comparisons to former Bruin Russell Westbrook. His 48 made threes were the second most by a UCLA freshman in school history. He did go through a cold stretch late in the season, but still earned Pac-12 All-Freshman honors. He declared for the draft on April 16, 2014, giving up his remaining three years of eligibility.
5. Draft Story & Combine Performance
The Zach LaVine draft story is about potential over production. At various points in the spring of 2014, mock drafts had him anywhere from around fifth to tenth, thanks to his athleticism and the Westbrook comparisons. On draft night in June 2014, the Minnesota Timberwolves took him 13th overall. He signed his rookie-scale contract on July 8, 2014.
I haven’t verified his combine measurements against an authoritative source, so I’m leaving specific numbers out rather than guessing. His college tape and dunk highlights drove most of the draft buzz.
💡 Did You Know? In his first five NBA games, Zach LaVine played only 12 total minutes. An ankle injury to starter Ricky Rubio opened the door, and he took over as the starting point guard.
6. Zach LaVine Professional Career Timeline
Milestone Table
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| June 2014 | Drafted 13th overall by Minnesota |
| Dec 6, 2014 | First career double-double: 22 points, 10 assists vs. San Antonio |
| Feb 2015 | Wins Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie |
| 2015 | Named to NBA All-Rookie Second Team |
| Feb 2016 | Wins second straight dunk title; MVP of the Rising Stars Challenge (30 points) |
| Dec 23, 2016 | Scores 40 points, with seven threes, vs. Sacramento |
| Feb 4, 2017 | Torn ACL in left knee ends season |
| June 22, 2017 | Traded to Chicago in the Jimmy Butler deal |
| Jan 13, 2018 | Returns from ACL injury after about 11 months |
| July 2018 | Signs Kings offer sheet; Bulls match |
| Mar 1, 2019 | 47 points in a four-overtime win vs. Atlanta |
| Nov 23, 2019 | 49 points and a game-winning three vs. Charlotte |
| Feb 2021 | First All-Star selection |
| Apr 9, 2021 | 50 points vs. Atlanta (39 in the first half) |
| Summer 2021 | Olympic gold with Team USA |
| Feb 2022 | Second All-Star selection |
| Apr 2022 | First playoff appearance (vs. Milwaukee) |
| July 7, 2022 | Re-signs with Chicago on a five-year max deal |
| Oct 28, 2023 | Career-high 51 points vs. Detroit |
| Feb 2024 | Season-ending right foot surgery |
| Nov 29, 2024 | Becomes Bulls’ all-time three-point leader |
| Feb 3, 2025 | Traded to the Sacramento Kings |
| Feb 13, 2026 | Hand surgery announced, ending 2025-26 |
| June 29, 2026 | Exercises $48.9 million option for 2026-27 |
Minnesota Timberwolves (2014-2017)
As a rookie, he averaged 10.1 points and 3.6 assists and became a starter during Rubio’s absence. The 2015 Slam Dunk Contest put him on the national map. In his second year, he took over at point guard again when Rubio was hurt, and he scored 28 points against Phoenix in December 2015.
By 2016-17, he was averaging 18.9 points, shooting 38.7% from three. Then the ACL tear hit in February 2017. It was a cruel interruption just as he was becoming a real offensive weapon.
Chicago Bulls (2017-2025)
On June 22, 2017, Minnesota sent him to Chicago along with Kris Dunn and the rights to Lauri Markkanen (the 7th pick) for Jimmy Butler and the rights to Justin Patton (the 16th pick). He returned on January 13, 2018, and scored 35 points against his old team on February 9.
In July 2018, as a restricted free agent, he signed a four-year offer sheet with the Sacramento Kings, reported at roughly $78-80 million depending on the source. The Bulls matched within two days.
The next seven seasons were his statistical peak: 23.7, 25.5, 27.4, 24.4 and 24.8 points per game from 2018-19 through 2022-23. He made the playoffs once, in 2022, when the Bulls lost to Milwaukee in the first round.
Sacramento Kings (2025-Present)
The February 3, 2025, three-team trade sent him to Sacramento with Sidy Cissoko and multiple draft picks. De’Aaron Fox went to San Antonio, and Kevin Huerter went to Chicago. He averaged 22.4 points in 32 games for the Kings that first year and hit 44.6% of his threes on 7.2 attempts per game across the full 2024-25 season, an elite mix of volume and efficiency.
7. Zach LaVine Season-by-Season Stats Breakdown
Here are the Zach LaVine stats for every NBA regular season (guard stats: points, rebounds, assists).
| Season | Team | GP | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | Minnesota | 77 | 10.1 | 2.8 | 3.6 |
| 2015-16 | Minnesota | 82 | 14.0 | 2.8 | 3.1 |
| 2016-17 | Minnesota | 47 | 18.9 | 3.4 | 3.0 |
| 2017-18 | Chicago | 24 | 16.7 | 3.9 | 3.0 |
| 2018-19 | Chicago | 63 | 23.7 | 4.7 | 4.5 |
| 2019-20 | Chicago | 60 | 25.5 | 4.8 | 4.2 |
| 2020-21 | Chicago | 58 | 27.4 | 5.0 | 4.9 |
| 2021-22 | Chicago | 67 | 24.4 | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| 2022-23 | Chicago | 77 | 24.8 | 4.5 | 4.2 |
| 2023-24 | Chicago | 25 | 19.5 | 5.2 | 3.9 |
| 2024-25 | Chicago | 42 | 24.0 | 4.8 | 4.5 |
| 2024-25 | Sacramento | 32 | 22.4 | 3.5 | 3.8 |
| 2025-26 | Sacramento | 39 | 19.2 | 2.8 | 2.3 |
| Career | 693 | 20.7 | 4.0 | 3.9 |
Career Shooting
- Field goal percentage: .470
- Three-point percentage: .391
- Free throw percentage: .835
Key Observations
- His best season was 2020-21: 27.4 points (seventh in the NBA), 50.7% from the field, 41.9% from three, and 84.9% at the line.
- His 2025-26 averages dropped to 19.2 points in 31.4 minutes, with a 47.9-48% field goal rate. Some of the dip is the Kings’ struggles, and some is the injuries.
- Over two seasons in Sacramento (71 games), he’s averaged 20.6 points on 49.4% shooting and 41.6% from three.
Playoff and All-Star Numbers
| Event | GP | PPG | RPG | APG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Playoffs (2022) | 4 | 19.3 | 5.3 | 6.0 |
| All-Star games | 2 | 12.5 | 3.5 | 3.0 |
8. Zach LaVine‘s Signature Plays & Games
The 2015 Slam Dunk Contest
As a rookie, he opened with two perfect 50s, something no one had done since Dwight Howard in 2009, and beat Giannis Antetokounmpo for the title.
The 2016 Dunk Duel with Aaron Gordon
The final round went through two tiebreakers before Zach LaVine was declared champion. He became only the fourth player to win back-to-back titles, joining Michael Jordan, Jason Richardson and Nate Robinson.
47 Points in a Four-Overtime Marathon (March 1, 2019)
In a 168-161 four-overtime win over Atlanta, the third-highest-scoring game in NBA history, he scored 47 points while Trae Young put up historic numbers on the other side.
The Game-Winner vs. Charlotte (November 23, 2019)
He scored 49 points with 13 three-pointers, including the go-ahead three in a 116-115 win over the Hornets.
50 Points vs. Atlanta (April 9, 2021)
He scored 39 of his 50 in the first half, a historic burst, though Chicago lost 120-108.
51-Point Career High (October 28, 2023)
He set his career high against Detroit in a 118-102 loss.
11 Threes vs. Philadelphia (January 6, 2023)
He scored 41 points, going 14-of-19 from the field and 11-of-13 from three in a 126-112 win over the 76ers. It was his fourth career 40-point game on 70% or better shooting, which broke a tie with Scottie Pippen for second most in Bulls history.
The Duo Record with DeMar DeRozan (March 17, 2023)
His 39 points plus DeRozan’s 49 made 88 combined points in a 139-131 win over Minnesota, the most ever by a Bulls duo.
Torching the Hornets as a King (February 24, 2025)
He scored 42 points on 16-of-19 shooting, including 8-of-9 from three, in a 130-88 blowout.
Did You Know? In October 2018, Zach LaVine scored 30 or more points in each of Chicago’s first three games, joining Michael Jordan (1986) and Bob Love (1971) as the only Bulls to do so. He made it four straight in game four.
You May Also Like: “DeMar DeRozan: The Mid-Range Master Who Became LaVine’s Teammate Twice”
9. Zach LaVine Playing Style & Key Skills
Elite Athleticism
His vertical leap and speed in transition remain his signature. Even after multiple surgeries, he can still finish above the rim. His dunk contest titles were about creativity as much as height.
Three-Point Shooting
The Zach LaVine highlights reel is loaded with deep shots. He’s a career 39.1% three-point shooter and has hit 40%+ in multiple seasons. In 2024-25, he combined 44.6% accuracy with 7.2 attempts a game, which is among the league’s best volume-efficiency marks. Video game ratings reflect that: NBA 2K26 ranked him among the game’s top long-range shooters, according to reporting from Sports Illustrated’s Kings coverage.
Scoring Versatility
He scores off the dribble, off screens, in transition and on drives. His true shooting percentage peaked at 63.4% (2020-21 per ESPN Hollinger stats) and stayed above 60% for several seasons.
Areas for Growth
- Defense has long been his most-criticized area.
- Playmaking has never been his focus; his career average is 3.9 assists.
- Health has limited his availability in recent seasons.
10. Zach LaVine Major Honors & Achievements
- 2× NBA All-Star (2021, 2022)
- 2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (2015, 2016)
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2015)
- Rising Stars Challenge MVP (2016, 30 points)
- Olympic gold medalist (Tokyo 2020 Games), where he averaged 10.6 points as a sixth man
- Bulls’ all-time leader in three-pointers made (passed Kirk Hinrich on November 29, 2024, reaching 1,051)
- Pac-12 All-Freshman Team (2014)
- Washington Mr. Basketball (2013)
- First-team Parade All-American (2013)
He has no NBA championships and has not been named to an All-NBA team.
11. Zach LaVine Rivalries & Head-to-Head Battles
Basketball rivalries are more about teams and matchups than personal feuds, so here are the clashes that have defined his career.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
They first met in the 2015 dunk contest, where Zach LaVine won. Their next meeting was the 2022 first-round playoff series, which the Bucks won in five games over a Bulls team that included LaVine for four. It was his only playoff series so far.
Aaron Gordon
Their 2016 dunk duel stands as one of the great contests ever. Fans still debate whether Gordon deserved the title.
Minnesota Timberwolves
His Bulls career began with a 35-point game against Minnesota, now featuring Jimmy Butler, just months after the trade.
The Atlanta Hawks and Trae Young
The four-overtime shootout of 2019 and the 50-point game of 2021 both involved Atlanta, which makes the Hawks a recurring chapter in his scoring history.
12. Zach LaVine Injuries & Setbacks
Reliability is the main theme of his later career. This summary sticks to publicly reported injuries.
| Date | Injury | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2017 | Torn ACL, left knee | Missed rest of 2016-17 and 11 months total |
| Spring 2019 | Right knee tendinitis, bruised thigh | Missed the end of 2018-19 |
| May 2022 | Left knee surgery | Offseason recovery after first playoff run |
| Feb 2024 | Right foot surgery | Season-ending; played 25 games |
| 2025-26 | Ankle trouble, finger tendon injury | Missed nine games in a row before the break |
| Feb 2026 | Right hand surgery (tendon) | Season ended after 39 games |
He appeared in 39 games in 2025-26 and has played more than 67 games in a season just once since 2017 (77 in 2022-23). Kings general manager Scott Perry said on September 28, 2026, that LaVine is healthy entering training camp.
Did You Know? Despite the injuries, he has played 693 regular-season games and 12 seasons, and is still averaging 20.7 points for his career.
13. Off-the-Field Life
Family
He became engaged in April 2020 after a quarantine-era proposal to his longtime girlfriend, Hunter. Their first child, a son named Saint Thomas LaVine, was born in August 2022. His father, Paul, played in the USFL and NFL.
Media and Fun
In March 2016, he guest-starred on Disney XD’s Kirby Buckets. He’s also a popular figure in video game circles thanks to his NBA 2K ratings and his dunk contest legacy.
Representation
He’s represented by Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, who announced his 2026 option decision.
I’m leaving out details of his private life that aren’t confirmed by reputable public reporting.
14. Zach LaVine Endorsements, Brand & Net Worth
Contract History
| Year | Contract |
|---|---|
| 2014 | Rookie scale deal with Minnesota, roughly $9.6 million over the initial term |
| 2018 | Four-year Bulls deal (matched Kings offer sheet), reported about $78-80 million |
| 2022 | Five-year, $215.2 million max deal with Chicago |
| 2026-27 | $48.9 million player option, exercised June 29, 2026 |
His 2025-26 cap hit was about $47.5 million, and he’s slated to become an unrestricted free agent after 2026-27, when he’ll be 32.
Zach LaVine Net Worth
I can’t verify a reliable Zach LaVine net worth figure. Net-worth sites vary widely and rarely show their math. A solid starting point is the more than $215 million in contracted salary since 2022 plus his earlier deals, before taxes, agent fees and other costs. I’d rather explain the contract data than print an unsourced total.
Endorsements
I didn’t confirm his current shoe or brand deals from authoritative sources, so I’m not listing any here.
15. Zach LaVine Facts for Fans
- He was born March 10, 1995, in Renton, Washington.
- His father, Paul, played in the USFL and NFL; his mother played softball.
- He fell in love with basketball after watching Space Jam.
- He was Washington Mr. Basketball in 2013.
- He played just one season at UCLA, averaging 9.4 points.
- He was the 13th pick of the 2014 draft.
- He won two straight Slam Dunk Contests (2015, 2016).
- He beat Giannis in the 2015 dunk final and Aaron Gordon in 2016.
- He tore his ACL in February 2017.
- He was traded for Jimmy Butler in June 2017.
- He hit 13 threes in a 49-point game in November 2019.
- His career high is 51 points (October 2023).
- He’s the Bulls’ all-time leader in made threes.
- He won Olympic gold in Tokyo.
- He’s in the final year of his big contract in 2026-27.
- The 2025-26 Kings finished 22-60.
- He has never won an NBA title.
- He has no Super Bowl history; that’s his dad’s sport.
Did You Know? He has played in only one playoff series in his career: the 2022 series against the Milwaukee Bucks.
16. Zach LaVine Comparison with Peers
Raw peer statistics need careful sourcing, and I only included figures I could verify in this research. Here’s a comparison with franchise and dunk contest legends based on those verified records.
| Feat | Zach LaVine | Peer |
|---|---|---|
| Back-to-back dunk titles | Yes (2015, 2016) | Jordan, Richardson, Robinson (only others) |
| 30+ points in first 3 games of a Bulls season | Yes (2018) | Jordan (1986), Bob Love (1971) |
| 40-point games on 70%+ shooting (Bulls) | 4 at time of record | Pippen (tied before LaVine passed him) |
| Most 3-pointers in Bulls history | Yes (1,051+ as of Nov 2024) | Kirk Hinrich (previous leader) |
| Highest-scoring duo game in Bulls history | 88 points with DeRozan | Jordan & Horace Grant (85) |
| All-Star selections | 2 | N/A |
| NBA titles | 0 | Jordan (6), Pippen (6) |
The takeaway: Zach LaVine is historically elite as a Bulls scorer and shooter, but he hasn’t matched the team success of those icons.
You May Also Like: “Michael Jordan and the Bulls: How LaVine’s Records Stack Up”
17. Zach LaVine Legacy & Impact on the NBA
His legacy has three parts.
The dunk contest renaissance. His 2015-2016 contests helped restore the event’s prestige, giving new relevance to a showcase that had lost some luster.
The Bulls scoring era. He carried the franchise through a rebuild, produced 27.4 points a game in 2020-21, and broke records tied to Jordan and Pippen. He ended the Bulls’ long playoff drought in 2022.
The modern wing. He’s an example of the high-volume, athletic, three-point-shooting guard. Questions about defense and fit have kept him from true superstar status, but his shooting numbers speak for themselves.
His story has also been one of resilience: ACL tear, knee surgery, foot surgery, hand surgery, and still productive when healthy.
18. What’s Next: 2026-27 Outlook
As of October 6, 2026, the facts are:
- He’s on the Sacramento Kings with a $48.9 million salary for 2026-27, after exercising his option on June 29, 2026.
- The Kings finished 22-60 last season and used the No. 7 pick in the 2026 draft on guard Darius Acuff.
- Kings management said he’s healthy at the start of camp (September 28, 2026).
- Trade rumors may continue; some outlets have speculated about possible destinations, but nothing is confirmed.
- He’ll be an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
Key questions for the season: Can he stay healthy for 65+ games? Can he shoot near his 40% from three with a new backcourt partner? And will Sacramento keep him or move him?
19. Frequently Asked Questions Zach LaVine
Q1. Who is Zach LaVine?
Zach LaVine is an American NBA shooting guard for the Sacramento Kings, a two-time All-Star and two-time Slam Dunk Contest champion.
Q2. How old is Zach LaVine?
He was born March 10, 1995, so he’s 31 as of October 2026.
Q3. What team does Zach LaVine play for?
The Sacramento Kings, since a February 2025 trade from the Bulls.
Q4. Did Zach LaVine play in the Super Bowl?
No. He plays basketball. His father, Paul, played pro football in the USFL and NFL.
Q5. Where did Zach LaVine go to college?
UCLA, for the 2013-14 season.
Q6. What was Zach LaVine’s draft position?
13th overall in the 2014 NBA draft, selected by Minnesota.
Q7. What is Zach LaVine’s contract?
He signed a five-year, $215.2 million deal in 2022. In 2026-27 he’ll earn about $48.9 million, after exercising his player option.
Q8. What are Zach LaVine’s career stats?
Through 2025-26: 20.7 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game over 693 games.
Q9. How many dunk contests has Zach LaVine won?
Two: 2015 and 2016.
Q10. What happened to Zach LaVine in 2025-26?
He played 39 games (19.2 points), then had season-ending surgery on a tendon injury in his right hand.
