poise that puts company at ease. "Without saying anything, Zach just exudes an amount of confidence, which is good and which the team sees," says Nate Loenser, a Bulls assistant coach. "The maturity, the attention to detail, the drive that he has for a 'younger guy' has been remarkable."

And as for the MJ stuff, LaVine cites Jordan as his favorite player, having devoured endless hours of his film. First it was Space Jam, and then he needed all the rest—the championship tapes, Michael Jordan's Playground, His Airness, Come Fly With Me, and so on. His devotion to MJ was demonstrated during the 2015 Slam Dunk Contest, when LaVine donned Jordan's Tune Squad jersey for a tribute slam.

So maybe it's fate, then, that as LaVine trains at the Bulls'practice facility, Jordan's six title flags hover over him, watching his every move. LaVine welcomes the shadow. "Certain players are once-in-a-century, so it's good to walk in their footsteps," he says. With awe, he adds, "MJ, [Scottie] Pippen, the championship banners—it's ridiculous. It gives you the chills a little bit."

LaVine spent the first part of his day at the facility, working on his upper body. When we meet in August, that's all he's cleared for as he recovers from the ACL tear. The regimen features endless squats and some light lifting. "It's like, God damn!" he says. "My upper body is tight right now!" LaVine was listed at 6'5", 185 pounds last season; he's since bulked up to 205.

His workouts have impressed veteran teammate Quincy Pondexter. "Just trust