However, if there is one thing that separates the men from the boys, it is work ethic. Zach Lavine has focus off-the-floor. That can’t be taught. Every interview he’s been in, whether it’s the Los Angeles draft workout or the Draftexpress Pre-Draft workout, he mentions that he’s trying to take someone’s job. He knows it’s a competitive world out there. He knows he needs to work on certain things.
If fans, scouts, and general managers changed their approach to observation, they’d see a lot more upside. If we looked at him as a high school project point guard, he would go top-5. Everyone had a chance to watch him at the NCAA level, and found out who he was early, and expanded on his weaknesses.
But, if there is a player that we’d like to see Kobe Bryant mold, Zach Lavine has all of the attributes to get it right. He has the ball-handling to expand upon, the jumpshot that is NBA-ready, and the athleticism to raises his upside. How scary could he be? Imagine Stephen Curry with more explosiveness. Curry had a more polished perimeter touch out of Davidson, but he was also a junior when he left for the NBA.
Think of LaVine in two more years. Once he adds some strength and gets some defensive focus, he can warrant major playing time.
That’s a scary thought to have on someone’s NBA roster.