Lauri Markkanen

Lauri Elias Markkanen (/ˈlri ˈmɑːrkənɛn/ LAO-ree MAR-kə-nen; born 22 May 1997) is a Finnish basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Finnisher", he is the son of Finnish basketball players Pekka and Riikka Markkanen, and the younger brother of footballer Eero Markkanen.

Lauri Markkanen
Markkanen with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021
No. 23 Utah Jazz
PositionSmall forward / power forward
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1997-05-22) 22 May 1997
Vantaa, Finland
Listed height7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Listed weight240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
CollegeArizona (2016–2017)
NBA draft2017: 1st round, 7th overall pick
Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Playing career2005–present
Career history
2005–2011HoNsU
20122014BC Jyväskylä
20142017HBA-Märsky
20172021Chicago Bulls
2021–2022Cleveland Cavaliers
2022–presentUtah Jazz
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats  at Basketball-Reference.com

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.

Markkanen was named the Finnish Athlete of the Year in 2023, as the first basketball player ever to win the award.

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