Zach LaVine hailed from Renton, Washington, and was raised alongside his three sisters by his parents, Paul LaVine and CJ LaVine.
His parents were accomplished athletes in their prime, and Zach inherited their passion for sports. He often shares pictures with his mother and father on his Instagram account.
Paul, who played professional football in both the NFL and the USFL, is now retired. On the other hand, CJ was a softball player during her college years.
Their son has followed in their footsteps and is now a prominent basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA), currently playing for the Chicago Bulls.
The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Zach in the first round of the 2014 NBA draft, and he has also played for the Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets.
He recently had a noteworthy performance against the Detroit Pistons, securing five rebounds and four assists. The 27-year-old is geared up for his next game against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night in the NBA.
Paul LaVine, Zach LaVine’s Father
Zach LaVine’s father, Paul LaVine, is a retired American footballer who played as a linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks in the (NFL).
Paul initially played as a Right Outside LB at the USFL club Portland Breakers for two seasons before joining the Seahawks in 1988.
During his first season at the Seattle-based club, he switched sides and played as a left linebacker for one season, playing in three games that season.
Paul was born on May 1, 1962, in San Bernardino, California, and completed his education at Bakersfield Highland High School. He joined the San Bernardino Valley College football team in 1981 at 19.
After two years of playing college football, Paul received a letter from Utah State in 1983. In 1985, the Portland Breakers selected him in the 12th round of the USFL draft.
After retiring from football, Paul ventured into softball. Zach recalls seeing his dad practicing with his uncle in their backyard.
Paul’s guidance and coaching played a crucial role in shaping Zach’s skills as a basketball player.
Zach was only five years old when he fell in love with basketball, inspired by the 1996 animated comedy Space Jam.
His dad trained and helped him develop skills such as ball handling, agility strengthening, touch shots, and more.
Paul trained Zach physically and taught him how to handle game scenarios’ positive and negative aspects. Whenever Zach needs advice, he turns to his father, who gave him the mental fortitude to stand up to a hard-nosed and demanding coach.
Although Paul was a bit hard on Zach during his formative years, Zach now understands that his father’s actions were necessary for his development as a distinctive player in the NBA.
Zach now plays for the Chicago Bulls in the NBA, having been drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2014 NBA draft. He has also played for the Timberwolves and the Denver Nuggets.
In January 2022, he had an impressive game against the Detroit Pistons and was set to play against the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA.
Cheryl Johnson, Zach LaVine’s Mother
LaVine’s mom Cheryl Johnson played softball during her high school days. She grew up with her two athletic brothers.
Competing with her two siblings made it challenging for her to pursue a career in sports, but her skills and talents helped her rise through the ranks in Seattle and become a collegiate athlete.
Cheryl prefers a private life and has not been active on social media platforms. Nonetheless, Zach occasionally shares pictures of her and her husband on his social media handles.
The NBA star never forgets to send his greetings to his mother on both Mother’s Day and her birthday.
In May 2021, Zach shared an old photograph of himself with his mom on Instagram. He appeared in his early teens, and Cheryl looked young in the picture.
