Zach LaVine eager to prove contract doubters wrong

Zach LaVine has a new four-year, $78 million contract from the Chicago Bulls, a deal that has raised some eyebrows and drawn some criticism in certain circles.

LaVine, however, is taking all that criticism as motivation to wake some of the doubters up and show what he can do, and why he deserves his payday.

“I’m my hardest critic,” LaVine said Sunday, via Nick Friedell of ESPN. “There’s nothing that any of you guys can say to me that I [don’t] take harder upon myself. I go back and critique my game every year. I’m used to people sleeping on me, and I’m also used to waking them up as well. I’m happy that I have this contract, and I’m happy that I have a little extra motivation to go out there and prove it to some people that don’t believe in me.

“At the end of the day, I believe in myself, I believe in my work, and I’m going to show the city of Chicago it’s a good choice and I’m here to stay. I’m going to be their guy, and I’m ready to do whatever to help this team get back to that spot.”

It’s worth remembering, as LaVine has pointed out, that it wasn’t the Bulls who initially thought he was worth $78 million. That’s probably even more motivation for a player who clearly has a chip on his shoulder.