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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

The Chicago Bulls faced off against the Orlando Magic on November 18, 2022. In the last few minutes of the game, Zach LaVine was benched by Bulls head coach Billy Donovan. Post-game, LaVine expressed his displeasure with Donovan’s last-minute decision. In a short interview, the Bulls’ guard’s displeasure was evident as he stated that he disagreed with the coach’s decision.

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The Chicago Bulls suffered yet another loss on Friday night. The Orlando Magic beat the Bulls by just one point, winning by 108-107. This marked the Bulls’ 10th loss out of the 16 games played so far. However, it was Bulls star Zach LaVine’s frustration that became the primary topic after the game. During the remaining three minutes and 43 seconds, Donovan pulled LaVine out of the game and benched him. Evidently, the decision did not sit well with LaVine who later gave his thoughts on it.

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During a post-game interview, LaVine said, “That?s Billy?s decision. He gotta lay with it. Do I agree with it? No. I think I can go out there and still be me even if I miss some shots. But that?s his decision. He has to stand on it.”

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A reporter then asked LaVine if he had any intentions of talking it out with Donovan. However, LaVine replied that he wasn’t sure about it yet and would think about it later.

Chicago Bulls head coach justifies his decision

The Chicago Bulls were beaten by just one point on Friday night. Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan scored an impressive 41 points with 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Additionally, Bulls center Nikola Vucevic scored 14 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists on the night. Whereas, Zach LaVine only managed to score 4 points with 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Billy Donovan later explained why he made the last-minute decision to bench LaVine. Donovan stated LaVine had a “tough night shooting.”

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Furthermore, he explained, “I came back to Zach and it was one of those games for him. He just didn?t have a great game. Great players, it happens. He cares deeply about the team. He just wasn?t playing well.”

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Zach LaVine is considered to be one of the Bulls’ best players. In July 2022, it was reported that LaVine had signed a five-year contract extension with the Bulls worth a reported $215 million.

While Zach LaVine was clearly frustrated with Billy Donovan’s decision, what did you think of it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Siyari Debbarma

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Siyari Debbarma is a senior NBA writer at EssentiallySports. With over 700 articles under her belt, Siyari is an expert in providing in-depth analysis and coverage of the game. Her throwback article on Dennis Rodman's plea for help garnered more than 3.5 million page views, a testament to her skill as a writer and journalist. Siyari's expertise also extends to game coverage and lifestyle reporting on NBA players and their families. She brings a unique perspective to her articles, providing readers with a behind-the-scenes look at the personal lives of their favorite players. Her passion for basketball began when she started hooping in her senior year of school, and she has been a devoted fan of the game ever since. Although Siyari admires players irrespective of their teams, the Golden State Warriors hold a special place in her heart. She is a huge fan of iconic names such as Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan, but her personal preferences have never swayed her from delivering detailed and impartial content to her readers. When she's not covering the latest NBA stories, Siyari indulges in her love of reading, with a particular fondness for books on history and culture. She also spends time with her adorable cats and dogs, who keep her company when she's away from the court.

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