Lauri Markkanen is a Finnish professional basketball player who was born on May 22, 1997, in Vantaa, Finland. He is a 7-foot-tall power forward who played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats before being selected seventh overall in the 2017 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls.
Markkanen quickly established himself as a key player for the Bulls, averaging 15.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in his rookie season. He continued to improve in his second year, averaging 18.7 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
In 2019, Markkanen represented Finland in the FIBA Basketball World Cup and led his team in scoring with 19.5 points per game. He has also played for the Finnish national team in other international competitions.
As of September 2022, Markkanen is playing for the Utah Jazz after being traded by the Cavaliers. He continues to be a valuable player in the NBA and is known for his shooting ability and versatile playing style.
