LaVine didn't dare speak up as a rookie, but this Bulls roster is different
During Zach LaVine's rookie season in Minnesota, the Timberwolves finished with a 16-66 record.
LaVine knew better than to try to speak up and be a leader that season. That particular locker room was no place for a rookie to step forward.
"I had KG and Mo Williams and Kevin Martin and Brew (Corey Brewer) on the team," LaVine said. "So I didn't really get to say a lot."
That's probably an understatement regarding Kevin Garnett, one of the more dominant personalities in recent NBA history. Garnett didn't arrive until the trade deadline, though, sent from Brooklyn to finish his career where it began.
Garnett played in just five games that season as LaVine and Andrew Wiggins struggled against tough competition in the Western Conference. Wiggins did win rookie of the year and the Timberwolves won the right to select Karl Anthony Towns at the ensuing draft lottery.
LaVine's rookie season became topical because of the way current Bulls rookie Wendell Carter Jr. has expressed a desire to help bring his teammates together as they slog through this season short-handed.
After Saturday's ugly loss to Toronto, which LaVine missed due to an illness, Carter talked about how the Bulls tend to pull in different directions when things go badly on the court. When opposing teams go on runs, the Bulls usually abandon the team concept and roll downhill quickly.
The Bulls have a few veterans on this roster, namely Robin Lopez and Justin Holiday. But no one like Kevin Garnett, that's for sure.
"Definitely, he's able to take leadership," LaVine said of Carter. "He's one of the key dudes on this team. He's going to be here for the future, and I feel like his voice is just as important as any of ours.
"I think we all need to take that type of approach. It can't be a sorrow thing. Wendell, I feel like, for his age he's extremely mature just by the way he talks to the media. So it's a bright spot and something you're encouraged to see."
Whether any words can solve the Bulls' issues remains to be seen. Getting players back from injuries is the most obvious fix.
LaVine said he wanted to get out to practice on Monday to get a workout in. He expects to go through a full practice on Tuesday and play the following night against Phoenix.
"I just didn't want to lay in bed for two days," LaVine said. "Just sweat it out a little bit. I really shouldn't have played versus Milwaukee (on Friday) and I think that's just what really ran me into the ground. I've already missed enough games in my career. I don't want to miss any games."
The Bulls have had enough trouble staying competitive as teams gang up on defense to slow down LaVine, who has been far and away the team's best scorer. Without LaVine on Saturday, the Bulls lost by 39 points and were never competitive.
Coach Fred Hoiberg endorsed the idea of Carter being vocal with his teammates, despite being the youngest player on the roster at 19.
"It is important," Hoiberg said. "I think a lot of times those rookies come into the league and don't want to overstep their bounds and fall in line. But what I've seen out of Wendell is when things need to be said, he's not afraid to step up and do it. That's a great quality."
Carter will be in the spotlight Wednesday for his first professional matchup with No. 1 overall draft pick DeAndre Ayton.
Looking back at his own experience, LaVine talked about trying to adapt Garnett's example to fit his own personality.
"You can't try to be someone you're not. I'm not KG. I don't think anybody is," LaVine said. "But you can learn about his approach. The main thing I learned from him is I always try to outwork everybody. I try to show everybody that I'm the hardest worker here … so you can always have that respect in the locker room."
• Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls