CHICAGO – The moments Timberwolves coach Ryan Saunders said he will remember most about former Wolves and current Bulls guard Zach LaVine are those away from the court.
Before Wednesday's matchup, Saunders relayed a story from his wedding day about how LaVine was one of the first people Saunders saw outside the church as he was hustling to make it in time after being traded to Chicago.
"He raced from Chicago and his flight was delayed but he had to be there," Saunders said. "That's a moment that's always going to stick with me."
It typified the kind of person LaVine is, Saunders said, one who treated everyone in the organization well when he was with Minnesota. Even though they were opponents Wednesday, Saunders has been happy to see the season LaVine is having. He is averaging a career-high 25 points per game and is making a case to being an Eastern Conference All-Star team member. It's the kind of season Saunders envisioned when the Wolves drafted him in 2014.
"He's done a good job of developing into an under-control offensive player," Saunders said. "The way he can score the basketball and the way he's able to almost take over games late. … There were a number of games where he's been a huge catalyst to Chicago's wins here."
LaVine joined Chicago after the Wolves traded him in June of 2017 as part of the package that brought Jimmy Butler to Minnesota. But the time away hasn't diminished their relationship.
"Zach is a player that I formed a special bond with," Saunders said. "… He's one of the best guys I've been around at a young age being mature and how he treated people in the organization.
A return trip?
Jarrett Culver hopes he'll be back in Chicago in a few weeks. That's where this year's All-Star Game is taking place and, as part of that weekend, where the NBA holds a game featuring its "Rising Stars."
