Chicago Bulls guard/forward Demar Derozan (11) and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) embrace after a Bucks win at the United Center in Chicago on Friday, March 4, 2022. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Imag Zach LaVine has an Olympic gold medal.
What he doesn’t have is NBA playoff experience.At last, that part is about to change.No active NBA player has been in more regular-season games without making his playoff debut than LaVine, who has appeared in 478 games with the Chicago Bulls.
He’s expected to play in his first playoff game Sunday night when the Bulls visit Milwaukee.Once LaVine makes his playoff debut, the title nobody wants — active player with most games and no playoff appearances — will fall to Buddy Hield.
He’s been in 468 games with Sacramento, New Orleans and Indiana.If Hield appears in at least 32 games next season, he will become the eighth player with at least 500 regular-season appearances but zero playoff contests.