.jpg) Markkanen with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021 | |
| No. 23 – Utah Jazz | |
|---|---|
| Position | Small forward / power forward |
| League | NBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | 22 May 1997 Vantaa, Finland |
| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
| Listed weight | 240 lb (109 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Helsinki Basketball Academy (Helsinki, Finland) |
| College | Arizona (2016–2017) |
| NBA draft | 2017: 1st round, 7th overall pick |
| Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves | |
| Playing career | 2014–present |
| Career history | |
| 2014–2016 | HBA-Märsky |
| 2017–2021 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2021–2022 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2022–present | Utah Jazz |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Lauri Elias Markkanen (/ˈlaʊri ˈmɑːrkənɛn/ LAO-ree MAR-kə-nen; 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",[1] he is the son of Finnish basketball players Pekka and Riikka Markkanen, and the younger brother of footballer Eero Markkanen.
Starting his career with HBA-Märsky in the Finnish second-tier league, Markkanen moved to the United States and played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats, where he earned First-team All-Pac-12 honors in his lone year with the team. He was selected seventh overall in the 2017 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves before being included in a draft-night trade to the Chicago Bulls for Jimmy Butler. Following a stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Markkanen experienced a career resurgence in his first year with the Jazz, earning his first All-Star selection and winning the Most Improved Player Award in 2023. After two successful seasons with the Jazz, Markkanen signed a five-year contract extension with the franchise.
Markkanen was named the Finnish Athlete of the Year in 2023, as the first basketball player ever to win the award.[2][3]
- ^ Kostecka, Ryan. ""Staying Focused On What We Can Control" | The Jazz Welcome The Clippers To Utah For Round Three". www.nba.com. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
- ^ Vuoden urheilija on Lauri Markkanen!, Yle, 11 January 2024
- ^ Lauri Markkanen on Vuoden urheilija! NBA-valmentaja pääsi opettelemaan heti suomea – äidiltä hulvaton tarina, Yle, 11 January 2024