Coming off a career year, Zach LaVine entered the season with expectations of taking another leap. While he has remained productive, leading the Sacramento Kings in scoring, injuries once again disrupted his momentum. Now, the star guard has been officially shut down for the remainder of the season.
Zach LaVine Shut Down Due to Right Hand Injury
LaVine had missed the Kings’ previous three games with a tendon injury in his pinky finger. NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Friday that the star guard is set to undergo surgery after the All-Star break and will be ruled out for the remainder of the season.
“Sacramento Kings guard Zach LaVine will undergo season-ending surgery on his right hand after the All-Star break, league sources tell me. He averaged 19.2 points, shot 48 percent from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc,” Haynes wrote.
LaVine arrived in Sacramento from the Chicago Bulls via a three-team trade. The Bulls were able to get their 2025 first-round pick back, while the San Antonio Spurs received De’Aaron Fox and Jordan McLaughlin.
During his tenure in Chicago, LaVine established himself as a two-time All-Star and helped the franchise return to playoff contention. However, a deep postseason run never materialized, ultimately leading the Bulls to move on.
Now, Sacramento finds itself in a difficult position. The Kings entered the break riding a 14-game losing streak with a league-worst 12-44 record.
As a result, LaVine was involved in significant trade rumors ahead of the deadline but ultimately remained with the team. This season-ending injury, however, has cast further doubt on his future. NBA analyst Matt George speculated:
“Has Zach LaVine played his last game as a King? Both sides probably hope so,” he wrote.
Injuries have become a recurring issue for LaVine. He has played 70 or more games just four times in his career. Although he led the Kings in scoring this season, his 19.2 points per game marked his lowest average since the 2017–18 campaign. His minus-8.0 plus-minus was also a career low.
That represents a sharp decline from last season, when he averaged 23.3 points per game while shooting career-best marks of 51.1 percent from the field and 44.9 percent from three-point range.
LaVine signed a five-year, $215 million contract in July 2022 and carries an average annual salary of roughly $43 million. He still has approximately $96 million remaining on his deal, which could make it challenging for Sacramento to find a trade partner willing to absorb the contract for a player who has struggled to consistently elevate team performance.
