Lauri Markkanen
Lauri Markkanen, nicknamed “The Finisher,” is a Finnish professional basketball player born on May 22, 1997, in Vantaa, Finland. He is currently a power forward/center for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) tall and weighing 240 lb (109 kg), Markkanen comes from a family with a strong basketball background; both his parents, Pekka and Riikka Markkanen (née Ellonen), were professional basketball players. He also has two brothers, Miikka, a former professional basketball player, and Eero, a professional soccer player. In 2017, after being drafted into the NBA, Markkanen signed a multi-year shoe endorsement deal with Nike.
Markkanen’s college career took place at Arizona during the 2016-2017 season. During his time with the Wildcats, he had impressive statistics and was a key player. He earned several honors, including First-team All-Pac-12, Pac-12 All-Freshman team, and Third-team All-American – AP, NABC, SN (2017). At the end of his freshman season, Markkanen announced his intention to forgo his final three years of college eligibility to enter the 2017 NBA draft.
In the 2017 NBA draft, Lauri Markkanen was a highly anticipated prospect. He was drafted 7th overall in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. However, he was later traded as part of a larger deal and began his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls. His career history includes stints with HBA-Märsky (2014–2016), Chicago Bulls (2017–2021), Cleveland Cavaliers (2021–2022), and currently, Utah Jazz (2022–present).
Throughout his professional career, Markkanen has achieved significant milestones and received notable recognition. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2018. More recently, 2023 was a landmark year for him, as he was selected as an NBA All-Star, received the NBA Most Improved Player award, and was named Finnish Athlete of the Year. He has also been recognized as Finnish Player of the Year seven times, from 2017 to 2023. In the 2023-24 season, he played 55 games for the Utah Jazz, averaging 23.2 points per game, 8.2 rebounds per game, and shooting 48.0% from the field.
