Zach LaVine Agrees To 5-Year, $215M Extension With Chicago Bulls

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls had never signed a player to a contract that was valued at more than $100 million in its history.

Zach LaVine changed that on Friday when the guard who was among the team's biggest offseason priorities agreed to a five-year, $215 million extension, according to his agent. The deal was announced a day after NBA free agency started. The contract is the biggest in team history.

LaVine has averaged nearly 24 points per game in Chicago since joining the Bulls in 2017 after being acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. LaVine partnered with DeMar DeRozan to help lead the Bulls to their first postseason appearance in five years.

The 27-year-old guard averaged 24.4 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game last season and shot nearly 39 percent from 3-point range last season. He suffered a knee injury that required surgery after the season ended and Bulls officials expect LaVine to make a complete recovery.

LaVine announced his plans to remain in Chicago on social media when he posted a video that used a speech from “The Wolf Of Wall Street” that included the message, “I’m not f----- leaving. The show goes on. This is my home.”

Executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas said the surgery on LaVine’s left knee was successful and that he expects LaVine to be fully healthy by the time the season begins.

“I think he’s going to be healthy and he’s now progressing great,” Karnišovas said.

The signing comes a day after the Bulls agreed to terms with center Andre Drummond, who is expected to provide the Bulls some front-court depth and a rim defender.