Zach LaVine's emotional return to the United Center was short-lived, as he and his former teammates were left to pick up the pieces of a 126-113 Bulls loss to the Kings.
The home crowd gave LaVine, now with the Kings, a warm welcome back to Chicago, but it wasn't enough to lift him from the heartbreak of being traded away last February. A tribute video played on the scoreboard, showcasing his time in Chicago, and LaVine responded by waving to the crowd before punching the air in appreciation.
LaVine was not alone in feeling nostalgic, as fellow former Bull DeMar DeRozan made an appearance alongside him. While DeRozan had been given a similar sendoff last season, this time around it seemed like more of a courtesy visit than a full-blown welcome home.
For his part, LaVine played down the emotions, stating that "it felt like I came home" but also acknowledging that it was over and he needed to move forward. He went on to score 30 points in the loss, but not enough for the Bulls to pull off a victory.
Despite the setback, there were still plenty of positives to take away from LaVine's return. The Bulls are looking good with their young core, particularly center Nikola Vucevic, who was visibly excited to see his former teammates before the game.
Coach Billy Donovan praised both LaVine and DeRozan as "great guys" who brought a lot to the table during their time in Chicago. He also acknowledged that they were an important part of the team's history, but emphasized that it was not about what could have been, but about what is and will be moving forward.
The Bulls are now looking to capitalize on this momentum as they head into the new season. With LaVine's experience and DeRozan's veteran presence, they're well-equipped to tackle whatever challenges come their way. As for Buzelis, who had a breakout game of 27 points, he's already proving himself to be an important piece of the puzzle.
The home crowd gave LaVine, now with the Kings, a warm welcome back to Chicago, but it wasn't enough to lift him from the heartbreak of being traded away last February. A tribute video played on the scoreboard, showcasing his time in Chicago, and LaVine responded by waving to the crowd before punching the air in appreciation.
LaVine was not alone in feeling nostalgic, as fellow former Bull DeMar DeRozan made an appearance alongside him. While DeRozan had been given a similar sendoff last season, this time around it seemed like more of a courtesy visit than a full-blown welcome home.
For his part, LaVine played down the emotions, stating that "it felt like I came home" but also acknowledging that it was over and he needed to move forward. He went on to score 30 points in the loss, but not enough for the Bulls to pull off a victory.
Despite the setback, there were still plenty of positives to take away from LaVine's return. The Bulls are looking good with their young core, particularly center Nikola Vucevic, who was visibly excited to see his former teammates before the game.
Coach Billy Donovan praised both LaVine and DeRozan as "great guys" who brought a lot to the table during their time in Chicago. He also acknowledged that they were an important part of the team's history, but emphasized that it was not about what could have been, but about what is and will be moving forward.
The Bulls are now looking to capitalize on this momentum as they head into the new season. With LaVine's experience and DeRozan's veteran presence, they're well-equipped to tackle whatever challenges come their way. As for Buzelis, who had a breakout game of 27 points, he's already proving himself to be an important piece of the puzzle.
. He gave it his all out there and showed the crowd he still had love for Chicago, even if it didn't work out in the end 
. And I feel for him 'cause being traded away can be tough to swallow 
.
. That's some wise words right there, fam. It's easy to get caught up in nostalgia, but at the end of the day, you gotta focus on the future and what you can control 
.
. That's what I call a positive vibe 
!
. i mean, he came back to chicago with kings but it felt like they were expecting him to score 50 points and win game on his own lol. anyway, coach donovan said some nice things about him and deRozan, saying they're great guys who brought a lot to the team. also, vucevic seemed hyped to see them, which is awesome for the bulls' young core 
. He comes back home and it's all emotional, but then they still lose 
. I know he's trying to stay positive about his time with the Bulls, but it's hard not to think about what could've been 
. Still, it's dope to see him go out there and give it his all, even if it wasn't enough 
. And can we talk about DeRozan for a sec? He's always been underrated in my opinion 
. LaVine might be the main man now with the Kings, but DeRo will always rep the Bulls 
, especially Vucevic, he's gonna do some crazy things on that court 
!
DeRozan making an appearance was cool, though - it's always great to see old teammates get together. the young core is looking promising, esp with Vucevic leading the charge 
. don't know about Buzelis yet, but 27 points is a solid start 
guess only time will tell how this season plays out 
, but honestly, it felt like they were just trying to give him a quick feel-good moment instead of actually welcoming him back with open arms 
.
... felt like they were trying to make it rain parades or something 
Zach LaVine's return to the United Center was super emotional, but I feel like it was a bit bittersweet for him? Like he knew it was over and he just had to move on... 
. The young core is looking fire 
and Billy Donovan said all the right things about LaVine and DeRozan being great guys 
. Billy Donovan says they're focusing on the future, but I think he's just trying to keep everyone's mind off the elephant in the room: LaVine was traded for a reason. Something fishy is going on here...