Making the case for Zach LaVine over 3 All-Star favorites

Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine has scored 30 or more points in four straight contests. Over his last five games, LaVine averages 29.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.8 assists while converting 56.1 percent of his field goals and 40.0 percent of his triples. The 6-foot-5 swingman has connected on 55 of 98 field goal attempts to start the New Year.

After his torrid five-game streak, LaVine's averages are up to 23.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game on the season. He's shooting career-high marks from the floor and three-point range. LaVine is converting 51.2 percent of his field goals and 44.4 percent of his threes. The former UCLA Bruin is one of three players averaging more than 20 points while shooting above 50 percent from the field and 44 percent from long range. The other two are 7-footers Nikola Jokic and Karl-Anthony Towns who average three fewer three-point attempts per game.

Despite LaVine's phenomenal offensive output, he was once again left off the NBA All-Star fan voting's most recent returns. The 29-year-old failed to earn enough votes to even place among the top 10 guards of the Eastern Conference. Charlotte Hornets' guard LaMelo Ball led the way, earning nearly a million and a half votes. Cleveland Cavaliers' Donovan Mitchell and Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard have also crossed the million vote threshold, coming in at second and third, respectively.

While LaVine hasn't posted the gaudy numbers LaMelo has or contributed to the association's best record, like Mitchell, he's more deserving than several recipients listed above. There's even a case for LaVine to usurp Ball, but that's out of the question due to the vast difference in votes between the two guards. Instead of focusing on the top vote-getters, we've made the case for LaVine over three players who have yet to reach the 500,000 threshold.

3 Eastern Conference All-Star favorites Zach LaVine is outplaying

3. Tyrese Maxey

Although Tyrese Maxey is the hotter name due to his Most Improved Player Award and recent ascension to an All-Star, LaVine is outplaying the 24-year-old Philadelphia 76er. First and foremost, the Bulls are ahead of Philadelphia in the standings. Chicago owns a 17-20 record, while Philly sits in 11th place at 15-20.

Despite the similarity in records, the Bulls are much better (plus 7.4 points) with LaVine on the floor than the Sixers are with Maxey (plus 3.9 points). LaVine has never been known as a stout defender. Nevertheless, the 29-year-old adds more value defensively than does Maxey. Chicago is a mere 0.3 points worse with LaVine on the floor. The 76ers are 4.2 points worse off with the 6-foot-2 guard.

Lastly, LaVine's efficiency blows Maxey's out of the water. LaVine is shooting nearly 10 percent better from the field and 11 percent from beyond the arc. The former Dunk Contest champion's true shooting percentage is 64.1 percent compared to Maxey's mark of 54.6.—his second-worst of his career.

2. Tyler Herro

To be fair, Tyler Herro has a good case of earning his first All-Star nod in 2025. He's averaging career-highs all-around, 23.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. The Kentucky product's efficiency metrics have also never been better. He's converting 46.9 percent of his field goals and 40.1 percent of his 7.9 three-point attempts per game.

Even amid the best season of his career, Herro's shooting percentages are worse than LaVine's. Herro also owns a worse true and effective shooting percentage than LaVine. Herro's Miami Heat are better than LaVine's Bulls, but the former doesn't impact the game like the latter. Herro adds as much value to his team as LaVine on offense, but his defense leaves much to be desired, as Miami is 3.9 points better with the sharpshooting guard on the bench.

Like team metrics, individual defensive metrics tend to favor LaVine. The 6-foot-5 Bulls' opponents shoot 1.4 percentage points better when defended by LaVine. However, when assessing Zach's most common matchups, three of six are All-Star shoo-ins. Herro, on the other hand, allows his opponents to shoot 2.4 percentage points better when he's the primary defender. Although the difference isn't drastic, it must be noted that Tyler's most common matchups have been Tim Hardaway Jr., Ochai Agbaji, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

1. Jordan Poole

Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole averages more three-pointers and assists than LaVine, that's it. While the case could effectively end there, we'll dive a bit deeper into the statistical comparison between the two guards.

Somehow, despite suiting up for the 6-29 Wizards, Poole has received more votes than LaVine. Chicago's population is 2.6 million, and Washington, D.C.'s is nearly 700,000. Furthermore, the Bulls have 10 million more followers across social media than the Wizards. Sure, fan voting is a popularity contest, which is why this point is being made, but Poole leading LaVine by at minimum, 40,000 votes is absurd.

LaVine plays for the better team, averages more points, converts a higher percentage of his field goals, and plays much better defense. There could be an argument that Poole plays a flashier game. While the former Golden State Warrior is a nifty ball handler, LaVine has already recorded 35 dunks to Poole's five this season. Poole should receive some credit for averaging career-highs across the board, but his best season pales in comparison to the 2024-25 version of LaVine.