Lauri markkanen

Seemingly everywhere you turned Saturday morning, a Utah Jazz player or staff member sported a “The Finnisher” sweatshirt as the franchise’s All-Star push for Lauri Markkanen is in full swing. “Gotta give a shoutout to (Jazz rookie) Walker Kessler, my manager. He’s doing a great job of handing those out for the team and staff and it’s been fun seeing guys wearing them around,” Markkanen said, smiling, in an on-camera interview with NBC Sports Chicago following the team’s morning shootaround at the United Center. “My teammates having the belief in me the same way I trust my teammates, it’s been great.” Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Plenty has been great this season for Markkanen, who played four seasons for the Markkanen, who is coming off a career-high 49-point night in Utah’s victory over Houston on Thursday, is averaging career-highs in several categories. They include 24.5 points per game, 52.9 percent shooting, 42 percent 3-point shooting (on 7.3 attempts per game), 5.3 free-throw attempts, 87.7 percent free-throw shooting and 1.9 assists. Markkanen’s true shooting percentage of .673 also is a career-best and ranks eighth in the league, just behind Kevin Durant. Two players in the league are averaging at least 20 points while shooting 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range — Markkanen and Steph Curry. No wonder 16-year veteran Mike Conley Jr. answered “I don’t know” when ask...

• [ June 17, 2023 ] Suns Getting Creative To Find Chris Paul Trade NBA News • [ June 17, 2023 ] James Harden Giving ‘Renewed’ Thought About Sixers Future 76ers News • [ June 17, 2023 ] Lakers Could Give D’Angelo Russell This Creative Contract Lakers News • [ June 17, 2023 ] Mavs Seek Hawks’ Clint Capela In Major NBA Draft Trade Atlanta Hawks • [ June 17, 2023 ] Pelicans Almost Traded Zion Williamson In 2022 NBA Offseason NBA News The Portland Trail Blazers are in a unique position this NBA offseason. Some might call it an inevitable one. This team has the third overall pick in the upcoming NBA draft. They’ve also got Damian Lillard. In other words, the Blazers can choose between retooling around Lillard, or rebuilding. Both are attractive options.Rumors suggest that they’re leaning towards keeping Lillard. In fact, it’s being suggested that the Blazers want to trade that pick for an elite small forward.

What other choice did they have after trading away two multi-time All-Stars? Rudy Gobert went to Minnesota for a hefty package of role players and draft compensation, while Donovan Mitchell went to Cleveland for nothing short of the same. They were ready to dive head-first into a bucket of lottery balls and go after a top-2 pick in one of the more intriguing drafts in quite some time. At least … that’s what we thought. Three weeks into the season, the Jazz hold the second-best record in the NBA. Yes, you read that right. The same organization that just traded away a three-time DPOY and 26-year-old three-time All-Star for a combined seven first-round picks has a record of 10-3. They have already beaten Western Conference playoff staples like the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies twice. We’ve also seen them take down both Zion Williamson and Trae Young. It is one of the most mind-boggling starts to the year for a team that I can remember, especially since it’s largely thanks to a familiar face. Utah’s best player is hands down Lauri Markkanen. The former No. 7-overall pick is currently playing like the foundational piece the Bulls hoped to receive as part of their 2017 Jimmy Butler trade. He’s averaging 22.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists on a highly efficient 52.7 percent clip from the field. Each number mark a career-high. He already has three 30-point games under his belt, which included his season-high 32 points on Wednesday night against the Atlanta Hawks. He ...

Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz is the 2022-23 Kia NBA Most Improved Player. Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen has been named 2022-23 Kia NBA Most Improved Player. The news came just past 2 a.m. Tuesday in Helsinki, where Markkanen is currently fulfilling the military service that is mandated for all Finnish men before they turn 30. “Didn’t wake up at 2 a.m. for nothing,” Markkanen said on the TNT broadcast of the announcement. “It feels great. Obviously, it’s a huge privilege to be in this position.” . — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) Markkanen beat out fellow finalists Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City and Jalen Brunson of New York for the award. Markkanen got 69 of the 100 first-place votes and appeared on every ballot; Gilgeous-Alexander got 24 first-place votes and was second, Brunson got four first-place votes and was third. The six-year veteran, who just completed his first season with the Jazz after being traded from Cleveland last offseason, increased his personal production and efficiency across the board in what became his first All-Star season. Markkanen logged career highs in scoring (25.6), rebounding (8.6), assist (1.9) and free throw attempt (9.0) averages while shooting 49.9% overall, 39.1% from 3-point range and 87.5% from the free throw line. He led Utah in scoring, rebounding and free throw attempts en route to starting in the 2023 All-Star Game in Salt Lake City. The 7-foot forward became the first player in league history to convert more than 200 3-po...

Seemingly everywhere you turned Saturday morning, a Utah Jazz player or staff member sported a “The Finnisher” sweatshirt as the franchise’s All-Star push for Lauri Markkanen is in full swing. “Gotta give a shoutout to (Jazz rookie) Walker Kessler, my manager. He’s doing a great job of handing those out for the team and staff and it’s been fun seeing guys wearing them around,” Markkanen said, smiling, in an on-camera interview with NBC Sports Chicago following the team’s morning shootaround at the United Center. “My teammates having the belief in me the same way I trust my teammates, it’s been great.” Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Plenty has been great this season for Markkanen, who played four seasons for the Markkanen, who is coming off a career-high 49-point night in Utah’s victory over Houston on Thursday, is averaging career-highs in several categories. They include 24.5 points per game, 52.9 percent shooting, 42 percent 3-point shooting (on 7.3 attempts per game), 5.3 free-throw attempts, 87.7 percent free-throw shooting and 1.9 assists. Markkanen’s true shooting percentage of .673 also is a career-best and ranks eighth in the league, just behind Kevin Durant. Two players in the league are averaging at least 20 points while shooting 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range — Markkanen and Steph Curry. No wonder 16-year veteran Mike Conley Jr. answered “I don’t know” when ask...

What other choice did they have after trading away two multi-time All-Stars? Rudy Gobert went to Minnesota for a hefty package of role players and draft compensation, while Donovan Mitchell went to Cleveland for nothing short of the same. They were ready to dive head-first into a bucket of lottery balls and go after a top-2 pick in one of the more intriguing drafts in quite some time. At least … that’s what we thought. Three weeks into the season, the Jazz hold the second-best record in the NBA. Yes, you read that right. The same organization that just traded away a three-time DPOY and 26-year-old three-time All-Star for a combined seven first-round picks has a record of 10-3. They have already beaten Western Conference playoff staples like the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies twice. We’ve also seen them take down both Zion Williamson and Trae Young. It is one of the most mind-boggling starts to the year for a team that I can remember, especially since it’s largely thanks to a familiar face. Utah’s best player is hands down Lauri Markkanen. The former No. 7-overall pick is currently playing like the foundational piece the Bulls hoped to receive as part of their 2017 Jimmy Butler trade. He’s averaging 22.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists on a highly efficient 52.7 percent clip from the field. Each number mark a career-high. He already has three 30-point games under his belt, which included his season-high 32 points on Wednesday night against the Atlanta Hawks. He ...

Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz is the 2022-23 Kia NBA Most Improved Player. Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen has been named 2022-23 Kia NBA Most Improved Player. The news came just past 2 a.m. Tuesday in Helsinki, where Markkanen is currently fulfilling the military service that is mandated for all Finnish men before they turn 30. “Didn’t wake up at 2 a.m. for nothing,” Markkanen said on the TNT broadcast of the announcement. “It feels great. Obviously, it’s a huge privilege to be in this position.” . — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) Markkanen beat out fellow finalists Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of Oklahoma City and Jalen Brunson of New York for the award. Markkanen got 69 of the 100 first-place votes and appeared on every ballot; Gilgeous-Alexander got 24 first-place votes and was second, Brunson got four first-place votes and was third. The six-year veteran, who just completed his first season with the Jazz after being traded from Cleveland last offseason, increased his personal production and efficiency across the board in what became his first All-Star season. Markkanen logged career highs in scoring (25.6), rebounding (8.6), assist (1.9) and free throw attempt (9.0) averages while shooting 49.9% overall, 39.1% from 3-point range and 87.5% from the free throw line. He led Utah in scoring, rebounding and free throw attempts en route to starting in the 2023 All-Star Game in Salt Lake City. The 7-foot forward became the first player in league history to convert more than 200 3-po...

• [ June 17, 2023 ] Ex-NBA Executive Pitches Possible Bradley Beal Trade For Suns NBA News • [ June 17, 2023 ] Gregg Popovich’s Spurs Future Receive Massive Update NBA News • [ June 17, 2023 ] Suns Getting Creative To Find Chris Paul Trade NBA News • [ June 17, 2023 ] James Harden Giving ‘Renewed’ Thought About Sixers Future 76ers News • [ June 17, 2023 ] Lakers Could Give D’Angelo Russell This Creative Contract Lakers News The Portland Trail Blazers are in a unique position this NBA offseason. Some might call it an inevitable one. This team has the third overall pick in the upcoming NBA draft. They’ve also got Damian Lillard. In other words, the Blazers can choose between retooling around Lillard, or rebuilding. Both are attractive options.Rumors suggest that they’re leaning towards keeping Lillard. In fact, it’s being suggested that the Blazers want to trade that pick for an elite small forward.

What other choice did they have after trading away two multi-time All-Stars? Rudy Gobert went to Minnesota for a hefty package of role players and draft compensation, while Donovan Mitchell went to Cleveland for nothing short of the same. They were ready to dive head-first into a bucket of lottery balls and go after a top-2 pick in one of the more intriguing drafts in quite some time. At least … that’s what we thought. Three weeks into the season, the Jazz hold the second-best record in the NBA. Yes, you read that right. The same organization that just traded away a three-time DPOY and 26-year-old three-time All-Star for a combined seven first-round picks has a record of 10-3. They have already beaten Western Conference playoff staples like the Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies twice. We’ve also seen them take down both Zion Williamson and Trae Young. It is one of the most mind-boggling starts to the year for a team that I can remember, especially since it’s largely thanks to a familiar face. Utah’s best player is hands down Lauri Markkanen. The former No. 7-overall pick is currently playing like the foundational piece the Bulls hoped to receive as part of their 2017 Jimmy Butler trade. He’s averaging 22.7 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists on a highly efficient 52.7 percent clip from the field. Each number mark a career-high. He already has three 30-point games under his belt, which included his season-high 32 points on Wednesday night against the Atlanta Hawks. He ...

Seemingly everywhere you turned Saturday morning, a Utah Jazz player or staff member sported a “The Finnisher” sweatshirt as the franchise’s All-Star push for Lauri Markkanen is in full swing. “Gotta give a shoutout to (Jazz rookie) Walker Kessler, my manager. He’s doing a great job of handing those out for the team and staff and it’s been fun seeing guys wearing them around,” Markkanen said, smiling, in an on-camera interview with NBC Sports Chicago following the team’s morning shootaround at the United Center. “My teammates having the belief in me the same way I trust my teammates, it’s been great.” Feeling out of the loop? We'll catch you up on the Chicago news you need to know. Sign up for the weekly Plenty has been great this season for Markkanen, who played four seasons for the Markkanen, who is coming off a career-high 49-point night in Utah’s victory over Houston on Thursday, is averaging career-highs in several categories. They include 24.5 points per game, 52.9 percent shooting, 42 percent 3-point shooting (on 7.3 attempts per game), 5.3 free-throw attempts, 87.7 percent free-throw shooting and 1.9 assists. Markkanen’s true shooting percentage of .673 also is a career-best and ranks eighth in the league, just behind Kevin Durant. Two players in the league are averaging at least 20 points while shooting 50 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range — Markkanen and Steph Curry. No wonder 16-year veteran Mike Conley Jr. answered “I don’t know” when ask...