Lauri Markkanen

Finnish forward for the Utah Jazz, 2023 NBA Most Improved Player.

via Wikipedia: Lauri Markkanen · see source

Lauri Elias Markkanen (born 22 May 1997) is a Finnish professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and for the Finland national team. Nicknamed "the Finnisher", he is the son of Finnish basketball players Pekka and Riikka Markkanen, and the younger brother of footballer Eero Markkanen.

Quick Facts

Position: Small forward; power forward
League: NBA
Team: Utah Jazz
Born: 22 May 1997
Birthplace: Vantaa, Finland
High school: Helsinki Basketball Academy (Helsinki, Finland)
College: Arizona (2016–2017)
Drafted by: Minnesota Timberwolves

Lore & Background

Markkanen started his career with HBA-Märsky in the Finnish second-tier league. He represented Finland at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket in 2015 and the FIBA U20 EuroBasket in 2016, and was the top scorer in both tournaments. He played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats in the 2016–17 season, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors. He was selected seventh overall in the 2017 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves before being traded to the Chicago Bulls on draft night. After a stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he experienced a career resurgence with the Jazz, earning his first All-Star selection and winning the Most Improved Player Award in 2023. He led Finland in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and signed a five-year contract extension with the Jazz in July 2024.

Reader's Guide

Markkanen played for the Chicago Bulls from 2017 to 2021, then for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2021–2022 season. He was traded to the Utah Jazz in September 2022 and has played for them since. He was named Finnish Athlete of the Year in 2023.

Did You Know?

He made nine three-pointers in his first three NBA games, though other players like Luka Dončić have recorded more in that span.
He was not the first seven-foot player since Dirk Nowitzki to make eight three-pointers in a game; Kristaps Porziņģis had already achieved that feat.