Some stars have been dominant in the past, not only evolving into top scorers, but also making the All-Star team. But the years have changed, and he has experienced injuries and other factors in the league, and he still has to complete self-redemption after returning again.
For example, Brad Beal, the former No. 1 scoring guard in the East, averaged more than 30 points per game in the 19~20 and 20~21 seasons at the peak of his career; But after being traded to the Suns, he averaged only 18.2 points per game in the regular season in the 23~24 season, and in the playoffs, this score dropped again and again to 16.5, which is not consistent with the identity of the former No. 1 scoring guard in the East.
As a 2012 draft by the Wizards, the 31-year-old Beal still has to redeem himself and prove himself to be the top scorer on the planet.
Of course, it's not just Beal who needs to prove himself as an All-Star, as well as two-time slam dunk champion Zach LaVine.
After the management offered him a five-year $215 million contract, LaVine should become the absolute core of the Bulls, after all, he averaged 27.4 points, 5 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game in the 20~21 season, shooting 50.7% from the field and 41.9% from three-point range.
But in the 23~24 season, LaVine suffered an injury, and when he only played 25 games in the regular season, his average points per game became 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists, which once again made fans question his strength. Bulls management even wanted to send LaVine away this summer offseason, even if they were willing to take a first-round pick, but no team took over after all.
The pseudo-superstar who is strong in offense and weak in defense, and when it comes to the playoffs, the contract of more than 200 million has become a garbage contract, which is the criticism of LaVine by some fans.
But how? At just 29 years old and in the prime of his career, LaVine still has plenty of time to save his career. Throughout the highlight moments of his career, he once scored 51 points, 49 points, and 13 3-point explosions on the spot. It can be said that LaVine at his peak is really a good shot, and if he can use his talent and advantages to rise again to become an absolute star of the Bulls, there is also a good chance.
In the preseason game against the Grizzlies, LaVine returned full of blood, scoring 28 points and 4 assists, which is still a very good offensive performance, after all, he only used 12 shots to hit 9 shots, and 6 of 6 three-pointers.
The NBA has always been an ecology of winners and losers, and the league will only be respectful to the strong, and the weak will eventually be eliminated.
High salary and low ability, strong offense and weak defense used to be the fans' impression of forward Markkanen, but after only two seasons with the Jazz, the wind has changed instantly, and Markkanen is already the sweetheart of the current league?
For the once-up-and-coming LaVine, he needed a complete self-redemption, and he had every chance to do so.