Lauri Markkanen

Lauri Elias Markkanen, born on 22 May 1997, has established himself as a prominent figure in the world of basketball. This Utah Jazz’s NBA player has a strong lineage in sport, being the son of Finnish basketball players Pekka and Riikka Markkanen, and the younger brother of footballer Eero Markkanen.

Markkanen’s early career profiles him as a determined player, miles ahead of his competitors. Starting with HBA-Märsky in the Finnish second-tier league, Lauri relocated to the United States to play college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats earning himself first-team all-Pac-12 honors in his singular year with the team. The Minnesota Timberwolves selected him in the 2017 NBA draft before he was ultimately traded to the Chicago Bulls for Jimmy Butler.

Further, after a brief time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Markkanen saw a career resurgence, demonstrated through his selection for his first All-Star team and winning the Most Improved Player Award in 2023 while playing for the Utah Jazz. This accomplishment subsequently led him to be recognized as the Finnish Athlete of the Year in 2023, marking him as the first-ever basketball player to receive it.

Growing up in Jyväskylä, Finland, Markkanen began his basketball journey with the local team, HoNsU. His prowess soon earned him a place in the Helsinki Basketball Academy team, HBA-Märsky, in 2015. He spent the following year distinguishing himself as a key player in the Finnish second-tier league.

Upon committing to the NCAA Division I squad Arizona Wildcats in 2015, he was regarded as “a possible one-and-done candidate for the NBA draft.” Markkanen carved out a place for himself as the first Wildcats player since Mike Bibby to wear the jersey number 10. Hailed by SB Nation as “the best shooting 7-footer college basketball has ever seen”, Markkanen won several awards, topped numerous watchlists, and achieved a career-high in points against rival Arizona State in January 2017.

In March 2017, he was recognized as part of the third team All-American team by Associated Press, NBC Sports, USA Today, and Sporting News. He was also a first team All-Pac-12 selection, as well as part of the first team All-Pac-12 Freshman team and first team All-Pac-12 team in Associated Press.

In his NBA debut with the Bulls in October 2017, Markkanen scored 17 points, later setting an NBA record for the most 3-pointers in the first three games of an NBA career. He ended his rookie season as the Bulls’ leader in rebounds and set the record for the highest career leading scorer amongst NBA players from Finland.

Upon his return from a brief hiatus due to health problems in 2019, he dazzled fans with a score of 35 points, matching the most by a Chicago Bull on opening day since Michael Jordan in 1995. Despite some restructuring of the Bulls team, which led him to lose his starting spot, Markkanen continued to prove his worth.

Markkanen’s transition to the Cleveland Cavaliers in August 2021 was marked by a series of high-scoring games, including a season-high 31 points in an overtime win against the Denver Nuggets. Despite a singular season in Cleveland, Markkanen was a consistent starting player, contributing significantly to the team’s defensive strategy.

In September 2022, Markkanen was traded to the Utah Jazz, where he achieved career high points and a record for most three-pointers. Named to his first ever NBA All Star game in 2023, Markkanen became the first NBA All-Star born in a Nordic country. His season ended with him winning the 2022–23 NBA Most Improved Player recognition.

Competing internationally since 2015, Markkanen has had a successful run with the Finnish national team, leading the team both in the EuroBasket 2017 and 2022 tournaments.

Outside of his NBA career, Markkanen is very family-oriented. He has two children with his wife, Verna Aho. He also completed his mandatory military service in Finland in 2023. Markkanen has a sponsorship deal with Nike and was the first NBA player awarded the Finnish Athlete of the Year trophy in 2024. His life, on and off the basketball court, is a testament to dedication and hard work, solidifying his place as a titan in the NBA.