Nam Y. Huh/AP
Zach LaVine got to his feet as the tribute video ended on the large scoreboard, acknowledging the applause that was raining down.
He waved to the different sections of the United Center – the same building that cheered him for eight seasons – and then in one quick motion thumped his fist onto the left side of his chest.
For that brief second his heart was back in Chicago again. A reminder he was once a Bull.
Then he wasn’t, and that’s when the highlights stopped on Wednesday.
Thanks to a 27-point scoring night from Matas Buzelis, the Bulls ruined LaVine’s first return trip to the United Center since he was traded to the Kings last February, pulling away in the second half with the 126-113 victory.