Zach LaVine is coming off an injury-riddled season that was lackluster at best when he was healthy and playing. But in the Sacramento Kings' preseason home opener, the fans got a little taste of that LaVine magic. He's not back to form quite yet, but everyone got a glimpse of the shooter's shooter.
Like most of the veterans on the Kings roster, 2025-2026 was tough on LaVine. Last season saw him deal with a variety of ailments, including back issues, a bad left ankle sprain, and a torn tendon in his right pinky finger. That last one needed surgery and benched him for the rest of the season.
All told, LaVine only ended up playing in 39 regular season games for Sacramento out of 82. That means he ultimately missed 52.5% of the season. Even worse, it wasn't all in one shot. He kept getting sidelined and returning, making it impossible for him to find any kind of rhythm.
His relationship with then rookie head coach Doug Christie didn't help. LaVine isn't the best defender, which is Christie's main focus. It certainly wasn't getting LaVine open for shots. This disconnect also played a role in LaVine's subpar performances when he was on the court in those 39 games.
Something is different about LaVine this season
Like Sabonis, who also played limited time in his return from injury, LaVine was only on the court for roughly 15.5 minutes. That's the smart move as he had his fair share of rust to shake off right alongside Domas. What was interesting about LaVine was the little things in his game that stood out.
He went four for six from the field, finishing the game with nine points and a single defensive rebound. It seems like a quiet evening for him, but it's less about what he did than how he did it. LaVine was shooting with a level of confidence that faded away last season with all the injuries and issues.
There was a look in his eye, a pep in his step, that was undeniable. He was even putting in a bit more effort on defense and tried to stay in the mix. Don't get me wrong. LaVine isn't suddenly Defensive Player of the Year material. Yet, you cannot deny that he put real effort into that part of the game.
Look, this was 15+ minutes in a preseason game against the Lakers. No one was looking for an All-Star turn from him. Regardless of what the box score says, LaVine was a lot more invested in this performance than he was for most of last season. And that's something fans appreciate.
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