Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine recently opened up about his intense training regimen as a child, crediting his father for shaping both his game and his mindset.
On The WAE Show hosted by Lonzo Ball, LaVine shared how his father’s relentless coaching set the foundation for his basketball career.
“Training from a young age was pretty much like doing it professionally,” LaVine said, via HoopsHype. His father emphasized repetition, requiring him to make 500 shots daily, regardless of distance. These drills were complemented by extensive touch shots and dribbling routines, which LaVine admitted mirrored common exercises but were executed with unwavering dedication.
Unlike many athletes who start weightlifting early, LaVine’s training avoided heavy weights. His father prioritized natural strength development through running, plyometrics, lunges, and jump roping.
“On the football field, he’d have me lunge forward 100 yards, then backward for 80, then 60. After that, I’d sprint it,” LaVine said. The regimen, though grueling, taught him discipline and resilience.
LaVine also recounted a moment when his father intervened to keep him focused on basketball. As a child, LaVine briefly dabbled in skateboarding, inspired by an older cousin. His father, however, saw the distraction as a threat to his progress.
“One day, he caught me skateboarding without a helmet. He said, ‘If I see you doing that [__] again, it’s over.’ When I did it again, he smashed the skateboard and threw it over the fence, saying, ‘Go pick up your basketball. That skateboard isn’t getting you anywhere.’”
LaVine credits his father not just for his physical training but also for instilling a mental toughness that has carried him through his career.
Now a two-time NBA All-Star, the 29-year-old is averaging 21.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists this season while logging 33.7 minutes per game.
Reflecting on his father’s influence, LaVine expressed deep gratitude. “My dad, man, I give him the most credit in the world for the way he trained me and what he gave me mentally,” he said.
