Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine appreciated the way head coach Jim Boylen defended his players during a game last week, and he offered to cover the fine Boylen received from the NBA for picking up two technical fouls and being ejected from Friday night’s game during the Los Angeles Clippers. The gesture was not lost on the coach.
Boylen said he was upset with the screens the Clippers were setting, and LaVine later told reporters he appreciates having a coach who is “going to fight for us.” The NBA fined Boylen a total of $7,000 for the two technical fouls and the ejection, and LaVine offered to pay the money. League rules prohibit that, but the offer clearly went a long way with Boylen.
Jim Boylen said Zach LaVine’s offer to pay his ejection fines, reported by @malika_andrews, was “an unbelievable gesture” but Boylen declined because he preaches accountability to his players and ejection was “my mistake.”
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 17, 2019
The Bulls got off to an incredibly tough start with Boylen after former coach Fred Hoiberg was fired, and LaVine was one of the players who threw shade at the coaching staff. While Chicago is just 19-52 on the season, his relationship with Boylen has obviously come a long way.
