Lauri Markkanen

 

Lauri Elias Markkanen (born May 22, 1997) is a Finnish professional basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 7 feet (2.13 m) and weighing 240 pounds (109 kg), Markkanen plays power forward and center. He played one season of college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats before being selected seventh overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2017 NBA Draft and was immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls. 

 

Markkanen is a one-time NBA All-Star (2023), earned All-NBA Third Team honors in 2023, and won the NBA Most Improved Player Award in 2023. He is the son of Finnish basketball players Pekka and Riikka Markkanen, and the younger brother of footballer Eero Markkanen.

 

Early Life

Family

 

Markkanen was born in Vantaa, Finland, but grew up in Jyväskylä. His father Pekka, played basketball at the University of Kansas (1989-90) and professionally in Finland, while his mother, Riikka, also played professionally in Finland. His brother Eero is a professional soccer player. Markkanen played his junior years with local team HoNsU (Hongikon Nuorisoseuran Urheilijat). In 2014, he moved to Helsinki and joined Helsinki Basketball Academy, playing for HBA-Märsky in the Finnish second-tier league from 2014 to 2016. He speaks Finnish, English, and Swedish fluently. Markkanen is married to Verna Aho, and they have children together.

 

International Youth Career

 

Markkanen made his international debut with the Finnish U-18 national team at the 2015 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, where he led the tournament in scoring with 18.2 points per game. At the 2016 FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship, Markkanen was again the tournament’s leading scorer, averaging 24.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game while earning All-Tournament Team honors. He scored 33 points, including the game-winning basket, against Spain in the 2016 U-20 tournament.

 

College Career

 

On October 17, 2015, Markkanen verbally committed to the University of Arizona. In his freshman season (2016-17), he averaged 15.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game. On March 4, 2017, he scored a career-high 30 points against in-state rival Arizona State in the regular season finale. Markkanen shot 49.2% from the field and 42.3% from three-point range, showcasing an elite shooting touch rare for a seven-footer.

 

He was named Third Team All-American by the Associated Press, NBC Sports, USA Today, and the Sporting News. He earned First Team All-Pac-12, First Team All-Pac-12 Freshman, and was a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award. Following his freshman season, Markkanen declared for the 2017 NBA Draft, forgoing his final three years of eligibility.

 

NBA Career

Chicago Bulls (2017–2021)

 

On June 22, 2017, Markkanen was selected seventh overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves, then immediately traded to the Chicago Bulls along with Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn in exchange for Jimmy Butler and the rights to Justin Patton. Markkanen made his NBA debut on October 19, 2017, scoring 17 points.

 

In just his first three games, Markkanen set an NBA record by making 10 three-pointers, the fastest player in history to reach that mark. On November 12, 2017, he scored a then-career-high 33 points with eight three-pointers in double overtime against the Knicks, becoming only the second seven-footer after Dirk Nowitzki to make eight threes in a game.

 

Markkanen’s rookie season saw him average 15.2 points and 7.5 rebounds, leading the Bulls in rebounding. He became the fastest player in NBA history to reach 100 career three-pointers and was named NBA All-Rookie First Team. His 14 double-doubles ranked third among rookies behind Kyle Kuzma and Ben Simmons.

 

On January 28, 2018, Markkanen surpassed Hanno Möttölä (715 points) to become the NBA’s career leading scorer among Finnish players. Injuries plagued his second season, limiting him to 52 games. In his third season (2019-20), he averaged career-highs of 14.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in 50 games before the COVID-19 pandemic shortened the season.

 

Cleveland Cavaliers (2021–2022)

 

On August 27, 2021, Markkanen was traded to Cleveland as part of a sign-and-trade deal. He appeared in 61 games with the Cavaliers, averaging 14.8 points and 5.7 rebounds.

 

Utah Jazz (2022–Present)

 

On September 1, 2022, Markkanen was traded to Utah in the three-team deal that sent Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland. The move transformed Markkanen’s career.

 

In his first season with Utah (2022-23), Markkanen experienced a dramatic resurgence, earning his first NBA All-Star selection and winning the Most Improved Player Award. He averaged career-highs of 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds while shooting 49.9% from the field and 39.1% from three-point range. On November 16, 2022, he scored 47 points in a 150-147 double-overtime victory over Chicago—marking his second consecutive 40-point game and the first time in his career achieving that feat.

 

Markkanen was named Western Conference Player of the Month in December 2022 and January 2023. He finished the season with 52 games of 20+ points and was named to the All-NBA Third Team.

 

The 2023-24 season brought continued success despite injuries. Markkanen averaged 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds in 55 games. He missed 17 of Utah’s final 21 games with various injuries.

 

On August 7, 2024, Markkanen signed a five-year, $238 million contract extension (later reported as $195.87 million by some sources) with the Jazz, becoming the franchise cornerstone. The deal made him ineligible to be traded during the 2024-25 season.

 

Through the 2025-26 season, Markkanen is averaging 26.7 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. He has been subject to trade rumors despite his extension, with teams including Golden State expressing interest.

 

International Senior Career

 

Markkanen represented Finland at EuroBasket 2017, which was partially held in his home country. He led Finland to a 4-1 record in pool play, averaging 19.5 points and 5.7 rebounds across six games while recording 27 points in a double-overtime victory over Poland. He competed again at EuroBasket 2022 and led Finland at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

 

In 2023, Markkanen became the first basketball player ever to be named Finnish Athlete of the Year. At EuroBasket 2025, Finland finished fourth, with Germany defeating Turkey in the final.

 

Personal Achievements

 

Markkanen holds numerous distinctions as Finland’s most accomplished NBA player. His scoring records, shooting efficiency for a seven-footer, and consistency have established him among the league’s elite stretch-big men.

 

References

 

External Links

* Lauri Markkanen on NBA.com

* Lauri Markkanen on Basketball-Reference.com