Lauri Markkanen: From Finland to NBA Stardom—Stats, Contract, and Career Journey

Lauri Elias Markkanen, born May 22, 1997, in Vantaa, Finland, has become one of the NBA’s most unique talents. Standing 7-foot-1 and weighing 240 pounds, the Utah Jazz power forward combines size with perimeter shooting in ways few players can match. Nicknamed “The Finnisher,” Markkanen represents a new era of versatile big men who can score from all three levels.

Markkanen comes from an athletic family. His father, Pekka Markkanen, played college basketball at Kansas and competed professionally in Finland, winning three Finnish League Championships and earning Finnish Player of the Year honors three times. His mother, Riikka Markkanen (née Ellonen), also played basketball professionally. Markkanen has two brothers: Miikka, a former professional basketball player, and Eero, a professional footballer who has played for clubs including Real Madrid Castilla.

Growing up in Jyväskylä, Markkanen played youth basketball for HoNsU (Hongikon Nuorisoseuran Urheilijat). In 2014, he moved to Helsinki and joined Helsinki Basketball Academy, playing for their team HBA-Märsky in Finland’s second-tier league. He attended Basketball Without Borders camps in 2015, gaining international exposure.

Arizona Wildcats: One Season, Major Impact

In October 2015, Markkanen committed to the University of Arizona for the 2016-17 season. He became the first Wildcats player since Mike Bibby to wear jersey number 10. Arizona head coach Sean Miller praised his versatility, noting his ability to shoot from the FIBA three-point line and handle the ball.

Markkanen made an immediate impact, averaging 15.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game in his lone college season. In January 2017, SB Nation called him “the best shooting 7-footer college basketball has ever seen.” He recorded a career-high 30 points against Arizona State and earned multiple honors, including Pac-12 Player of the Week and Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week.

At season’s end, Markkanen was named to the third team All-American by the Associated Press, NBC Sports, USA Today, and the Sporting News. He earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors and was a finalist for the Karl Malone Award, Naismith Award, and John R. Wooden Award. After one season, he declared for the 2017 NBA Draft.

2017 NBA Draft: A Draft-Night Trade

The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Markkanen with the 7th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. Minutes later, his rights were traded to the Chicago Bulls in a blockbuster deal that sent Jimmy Butler to Minnesota. The Bulls received Markkanen, Zach LaVine, and Kris Dunn in exchange for Butler and Justin Patton’s draft rights.

Markkanen asked former Bulls player Brian Scalabrinefor  permission to wear number 24, which Scalabrine granted. The Finnish forward signed a four-year rookie scale contract worth $20.4 million on July 5, 2017.

Chicago Bulls: Rookie Success and Growing Pains (2017-2021)

Markkanen debuted on October 19, 2017, scoring 17 points against the Toronto Raptors. Three games later, he set an NBA record by making 10 three-pointers in his first three games—the most by any player to start an NBA career. He became the fastest player in NBA history to reach 100 career three-pointers.

In January 2018, Markkanen scored a career-high 33 points with eight three-pointers in double overtime against the New York Knicks. He finished his rookie season averaging 15.2 points and 7.5 rebounds, earning NBA All-Rookie First Team honors alongside Donovan Mitchell, Ben Simmons, Jayson Tatum, and Kyle Kuzma.

His second season showed improvement with 18.7 points per game across 52 games in 2018-19. However, the next two seasons were challenging. Playing time decreased, and his role became less defined as Chicago added frontcourt players. In 2020-21, after the Bulls acquired Nikola Vučević and Daniel Theis, Markkanen lost his starting position for the first time in his career.

Cleveland Cavaliers: The Bridge Season (2021-2022)

On August 28, 2021, Markkanen was traded to Cleveland in a three-team sign-and-trade deal. He signed a four-year, $67.47 million contract with the Cavaliers. In Cleveland, Markkanen started alongside rookie Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in what became known as “Tower City”—a three-big-man lineup that defied NBA small-ball trends and ranked 7th in defensive rating.

Markkanen averaged 14.8 points and 5.7 rebounds in 61 games for Cleveland. While solid, his season gave little indication of the breakout that was about to occur.

Utah Jazz: Career Resurgence and All-Star Breakthrough

On September 1, 2022, Markkanen’s career trajectory changed dramatically. The Jazz traded All-Star Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland in exchange for a package including Markkanen, Collin Sexton, Ochai Agbaji, three first-round picks, and two pick swaps. Most analysts viewed Markkanen as a secondary asset in the deal.

The 2022-23 season proved otherwise. In his first year with Utah, Markkanen averaged 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game while shooting 49.9% from the field, 39.1% from three-point range, and 87.5% from the free-throw line. He became the first player in NBA history to make 200+ three-pointers and 100+ dunks in the same season.

On February 10, 2023, Markkanen was named a starter in the All-Star Game after injuries to Stephen Curry and Zion Williamson. He became the first Nordic player ever selected to an NBA All-Star Game. On April 24, 2023, Markkanen won the NBA Most Improved Player Award, receiving 69 first-place votes and 430 total points. He beat out Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson for the George Mikan Trophy.

Markkanen’s scoring average increased by 10.87 points from the previous season—the largest improvement in the league. He led the Jazz in scoring, rebounding, and free-throw attempts while recording 28 double-doubles.

Finnish Athlete of the Year and Military Service

In January 2024, Markkanen was named Finland’s Athlete of the Year for 2023, receiving 1,998 votes and 126 first-place votes. He became the first basketball player ever to win the award, which has been presented by the Association of Sports Journalists since 1947.

Between April 17 and September 29, 2023, Markkanen fulfilled Finland’s compulsory military service at the Santahamina military base in Helsinki. All Finnish men must complete military service before age 30.

2023-24 Season and Historic Contract Extension

The 2023-24 season saw Markkanen average 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game across 55 games, along with career-high marks in steals (0.9) and blocks (0.6). He missed the season’s final stretch partly due to a shoulder injury and partly due to load management as Utah focused on draft positioning.

On January 15, 2024, Markkanen earned Western Conference Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career. Throughout the summer, trade speculation swirled as the Golden State Warriors heavily pursued him. Utah CEO Danny Ainge set a high asking price, reportedly demanding either Jonathan Kuminga or Brandin Podziemski plus multiple first-round picks.

On August 7, 2024, Markkanen signed a five-year, $238 million contract renegotiation and extension with the Jazz. The deal included $220 million in new money, with his 2024-25 salary increased from $18 million to $42 million using Utah’s salary cap space. The extension made Markkanen the highest-paid Finnish athlete ever, surpassing Formula One driver Kimi Räikkönen.

By waiting until August 7 to sign—one day after he became eligible—Markkanen ensured he could not be traded for six months, making him ineligible to be moved at the February 6, 2025, trade deadline. General manager Justin Zanik called Markkanen a building block for the Jazz, praising his combination of size, skill, and shooting.

2025-26 Season and Recent Developments

Through 56 games in the 2025-26 season, Markkanen is averaging 26.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 47.8% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range. He ranks 11th in the NBA in scoring.

In February 2026, the Jazz drew significant scrutiny when head coach Will Hardy benched Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the fourth quarters of games against Orlando and Miami. The NBA fined Utah $500,000 for conduct detrimental to the league, with many accusing the team of tanking. Hardy defended the decision, stating Markkanen was on a minutes restriction per the medical staff.

International Career: Leading Finland on the World Stage

Markkanen represented Finland at the FIBA U18 EuroBasket in 2015 and the U20 EuroBasket in 2016, finishing as the top scorer in both tournaments. He has since played for the senior national team in multiple major competitions.

At the 2022 EuroBasket, Markkanen averaged 27.9 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, leading Finland to the Round of 16. At the 2023 FIBA World Cup, he averaged 24.8 points and 8.0 rebounds across five games, though Finland finished 21st.

In August 2025, Markkanen scored a career-high 48 points in a friendly against Belgium during EuroBasket 2025 preparation, setting a Finland national team record. At EuroBasket 2025, he averaged 23.1 points and 8.1 rebounds, leading Finland to a historic fourth-place finish—the best result in the country’s basketball history. He was named to the All-Tournament Second Team and became the second Finnish player to surpass 500 career EuroBasket points.

NBA Career Statistics by Season

Regular Season Averages:

• 2017-18 (Chicago): 68 games, 15.2 points, 7.5 rebounds
• 2018-19 (Chicago): 52 games, 18.7 points, 9.0 rebounds
• 2019-20 (Chicago): 50 games, 14.7 points, 6.3 rebounds
• 2020-21 (Chicago): 51 games, 13.6 points, 5.3 rebounds
• 2021-22 (Cleveland): 61 games, 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds
• 2022-23 (Utah): 66 games, 25.6 points, 8.6 rebounds (All-Star, Most Improved Player)
• 2023-24 (Utah): 55 games, 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds
• 2024-25 (Utah): 68 games, 24.9 points, 7.8 rebounds
• 2025-26 (Utah): 56 games, 26.7 points, 7.0 rebounds

Career Totals: 491 games, 18.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists (45.8% FG, 37.1% 3PT, 87.1% FT)

Markkanen has earned over $111 million in career earnings and made $42,176,400 in the 2025 season.

Playing Style: A Modern Stretch Big

Markkanen’s game defies traditional big-man conventions. At 7-foot-1, he moves fluidly in transition, shoots with range extending beyond 25 feet, and handles the ball with guard-like control. He’s one of only three 7-footers in NBA history to make 1,000 career three-pointers, joining Dirk Nowitzki and Channing Frye.

His offensive versatility includes pull-up jumpers, catch-and-shoot threes, post-ups with refined footwork, and finishing at the rim. Defensively, his length and improved positioning make him a capable rim protector, while his lateral mobility allows him to switch onto perimeter players in pick-and-roll coverage.

Personal Life and Endorsements

Markkanen married Verna Aho in 2017, his childhood sweetheart from Finland. The couple met in middle school and has three children together, born in 2018, 2020, and late 2024. Verna founded Vernazza, a sustainable clothing brand, and maintains a private profile away from the spotlight.

After being drafted in 2017, Markkanen signed a multi-year shoe deal with Nike. In December 2023, he signed an upgraded deal that includes customized personal edition shoes featuring “LM23” and “Finnisher” on each heel.

Markkanen is an avid ice hockey fan, having played the sport casually throughout his youth. He attends NHL games when traveling with the Jazz and speaks Finnish, English, and Swedish.

Conclusion

Markkanen’s success has transformed basketball’s profile in Finland, a country where ice hockey traditionally dominates. Youth basketball enrollment has increased significantly, and his achievements have inspired a new generation of Finnish players.

As the first Finnish player to become an NBA All-Star, win Most Improved Player, and earn Finland’s Athlete of the Year, Markkanen has established himself as the greatest Finnish basketball player of all time. His journey from Vantaa to NBA stardom proves that with dedication and proper development, players from non-traditional basketball countries can reach the sport’s highest levels.