as your average college grad, and in many ways acts like one. His arrival in Chicago marks his first time living alone—his parents and sister relocated to Minnesota with him when he was drafted. The LaVines are a tight-knit family. In June, they all traveled to the Bahamas, where they watched the NBA draft and learned of the big trade.

"My dad was excited, hyped," Zach remembers of that night. LaVine's agent had called to inform him of the deal just before news broke to the general public. "But I kept everything at ease. I'm a real laid-back person."

Lately, he's also trying to be a health-conscious person. "Did you know lemon in water is actually good for you?" he asks me. "I just learned that."

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

It's a littleconcerning that we're eating at Gus's Fried Chicken about an hour after a midday workout, and that he ate here yesterday too, and that his smoothie maker is broken on account of his leaving the lid off with the machine on, thereby messing up the plastic blade in the center, but there is hope. Recently, he signed up for a service that delivers nutritious meals to his front door.

Plus—and perhaps more to the point—those who have spent time around LaVine professionally rave about his maturity. "Obviously, he's an up-and-coming star in this league, but he doesn't change the person he is—he's respectful to everybody," says Jones. "He carries himself how you'd want someone to."

In conversation, LaVine frames topics in a positive light and carries a sort of cool