For Zach LaVine, it all started with Space Jam. The Chicago Bulls’ two-time All Star and the first (and only) back-to-back Slam Dunk Contest winner has said from the start that catching the Michael Jordan/Bugs Bunny two-hander at the tender age of 5 is what first sparked his interest in basketball. LaVine would go on to win his first Dunk Contest with a Jordan jersey on his back, executing what he dubbed a “Space Jam dunk.” Since then he’s been a player so exciting to watch that at times it borders on cartoonish.

That feeling has only grown since his Bulls signed DeMar DeRozan, in whom he’s found a partner so perfectly suited to his on-court style that at times it feels like watching the WWE tag team champions. Thanks to the LaVine-DeRozan connection and the additions of Lonzo Ball and Nikola Vucevic, you have a team that has managed to stay at the top of the Eastern Conference for most of the season. For the first time in years the Chicago Bulls feel like a championship contender.

Still, it all comes back to LaVine. There is a real line between “star” and “superstar” in basketball and he seems primed to cross it soon (He's now a face of Mountain Dew, alongside It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Charlie Day).

LaVine linked up with GQ to talk about eating clean on the road, how his diet has changed since his rookie season, and his stance on the great Deep Dish Pizza Debate.

For Real-Life Diet, GQ talks to athletes, celebrities, and other high performers about their diet, exercise routines, and pursuit of wellness. Keep in mind that what works for them might not necessarily be healthy for you.

GQ: You’ve been in the league since 2014. How has your approach to diet changed over the last eight years?

Zach LaVine: I think that’s something a lot of young guys have to lock down and try to understand better. Just over the last couple of years mine has changed. There’s levels to it all, to working with chefs and understanding macros, all that. You can go about it however you want as long as you’re making that effort. Mine has changed a lot. From getting up and eating fast food on game days coming out of college and high school to having your own chef who understands how many calories and carbs you need, I’m definitely taking it more seriously.

Is your chef traveling with you on road trips or is that a home base thing?

They don’t travel with me right now, I just keep them back at home. NBA teams are pretty good about catering food during game day.

If fast food was the move in college, what are you starting your morning with on a game day these days?

I still like being able to get in something I like to eat for breakfast, so I’ll do something like pancakes or french toast. I’ll have my chef watch the sugar, obviously. I’ll get some eggs, chicken sausage, I’m pretty basic. Maybe some oatmeal here and there, and then I’ll throw in a smoothie or protein shake.

What does lunch look like after that?

It kind of depends on if I’m having after practice or before a game. After practice you want to get some protein back into your body. Before a game, I’ll have some type of carb. I’m big on noodles, pasta, and then maybe add some chicken or some kind of protein.

If it’s a game day how far in advance are you eating to avoid feeling too heavy before hitting the court?

I get to the arena around 4 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game, so I’ll eat anywhere between 3:45 and 4:30. I don’t like feeling too heavy so it’s usually pasta or fish or something. Once it’s closer to the game I might start wanting some type of carb in my system—sometimes that’s as simple as a little bit of toast. The Bulls’ chefs do a really good job of putting carbs or whatever you need in your body before the game, so whether that’s a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a protein shake they tend to have me covered.

How about dinner?

That’s when I’ll get a little creative. There’s so much variety you can play with there. You’re not just gonna go and have pizza, even though that’s totally what I used to do after games. I’d just get some fast food or something when I was younger. These days it’s pretty thoroughly designed for my needs. I’ll do steak one night, chicken or pasta or salmon. Fish after a game is great, it keeps you feeling pretty light but still gets you what you need.

When you manage to get a cheat meal or a Slam Dunk Contest victory dinner in, what are you going for?

I’m a big dessert person, so cheesecake is always one of my go-tos. I’m also a big ice cream guy. If it’s a cheat day or we’re celebrating that’s what I’m going for. I’m pretty lucky because I burn calories pretty fast, so I can get those cheats in a little more and it’s not gonna kill me at this point in my career.

What’s the best food city in the League?

What’s crazy is when I got to Chicago I didn’t understand how diverse a food city it is. You can get pretty much anything there and it’s always good. New York and LA are obviously pretty great. And then when you get down to the Southern states like Texas and Florida there’s some good stuff. You don’t get food like that in SoCal, you know?

You’ve been in Chicago for a while now. Where do you stand on the deep dish debate? Is it good or is it fake pizza?

Yeah, I like deep dish. I’ll do thin crust as well, no disrespect, but since I got to Chicago I’ve definitely become a deep dish guy. You can’t have as many slices obviously, but it’s a good switch-up from the basics.

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By Emily Abbate

Tres Dean is a contributing writer for GQ specializing in sports, fashion, and the intersections between the two (which most often means covering sneakers). Outside of the going-ons of the sneaker world, he’s profiled athletes like Zion Williamson, defended the valor of reviled directors, and interviewed Travis Scott from the... Read moreXInstagramRelated Stories for GQReal Life DietChicago BullsFoodNBA