Lauri Markkanen

Sam Smith

Entering his third NBA season, Lauri Markkanen was poised to take a leap forward in his development. After all, that’s what the Finland-native did going from his rookie year to his sophomore year as he improved his numbers nearly across the board despite dealing with injuries. Lauri’s 2019-2020 production looked more like his rookie season.

Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas when asked about Markkanen's regression season: "We've spoken to Lauri numerous times. He's been very patient, stayed in the market (Chicago). His family is now with him. He's eager to get back to the gym and improve. He was disappointed obviously by the overall result. Every player wants to win. He's about winning as well. Our objective is to get the best version of Lauri next year. We agreed in conversations that this is our objective and we're going to try to do it. Besides that, I'll look forward to meeting him face to face. Before accountability, I have to have a personal relationship with him. We'll set the expectations, which are pretty high. We're going to strive to get better. Same thing with Lauri. We have a lot of time this offseason. We're going to put a plan together for him."

There’s no doubt Lauri is talented and more than capable of being the No. 2 option on offense. Bulls fans have seen in 170 career games that Markkanen’s ability to shoot the basketball and finish aggressively in the paint with his 7-foot-tall frame are some of the unique traits that make him special. Karnisovas has a history of being on a Nuggets staff that prioritized player development, which was evident watching the growth of Denver’s young players (and particularly, seeing center Nikola Jokic’s game blossom). Markkanen should be expected to bounce back in a big way.

Lauri Markkanen scores 35 points against the Charlotte Hornets in the Bulls season opener.

Let’s take a look a couple of Lauri’s notable individual performances this season:

OCTOBER 23, 2019 AT CHARLOTTE (HORNETS 126, BULLS 125)

Markkanen Stat Line: 35 points (13-25 FG), 17 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal

In the Bulls first game of the season, Markkanen balled out and arguably looked like the best player on the floor. He scored 35 points, while adding 17 boards, becoming the first Bulls player to drop 35 in a season-opener since Michael Jordan did it in 1995. Lauri was aggressive from the jump, totaling 12 points in the first quarter alone. He did most of his damage close to the rim, hitting eleven of his shots inside nine-feet or less. Charlotte came away with the narrow victory, hitting 23 three-pointers which set an NBA record for most threes in a season-opener. But Markkanen’s performance showed some of the potential he is capable of achieving on a more consistent basis.

DECEMBER 11, 2019 VS ATLANTA (BULLS 136, HAWKS 102)

Markkanen: 22 points (8-9 FG), 4 rebounds, 1 block

In perhaps Chicago’s best all-around game of the season, the Bulls cruised to a victory over the Hawks in which Zach LaVine had a stellar night - scoring 35 points in only three quarters. But Markkanen was efficient as well, dropping 22 points on nine field goal attempts in 23 minutes. Lauri showed an all-around offensive game - hitting outside shots (2 for 3 from behind the arc), crashing the boards for a couple of second-chance dunks, and showing a soft touch through traffic by scoring on defenders in the paint. The Bulls were clicking on all cylinders offensively as the team shot 57% from the field and had 32 assists.

DECEMBER 18, 2019 AT WASHINGTON (BULLS 110, WIZARDS 109 OT)

Markkanen Stat Line: 31 points (12-19 FG, 5-10 3PT), 9 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block

Down 18 points in the fourth quarter, the Bulls made a furious rally to push the game to overtime and eventually beat the Wizards in their house. Markkanen scored on an alley-oop tip with 1:47 in overtime to give Chicago their first lead since the first quarter. Lauri’s teammates did a great job of finding him as he was feeling it from distance, knocking down five three-pointers on ten attempts. That’s the type of marksman shooting that Markkanen is capable of, as it was the eleventh time that Lauri hit at least five triples in a game.

bulls-2019-2020-season-recap-lauri-markkanen

Bulls 2019-2020 Season Recap: Lauri Markkanen

nbaplatformservices

Lauri Markkanen - Style In :24 with Tissot

lauri-markkanen-style-in-24-with-tissot

Once the NBA season starts, it becomes like a marathon race with the games coming relentlessly like mile markers, concerned less with the last than the next. So Thursday early afternoon in the wake of the disappointing opening night loss in Charlotte, Bulls players considered Friday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Certainly, there was no ignoring the defensive lapses in Charlotte, the drive-kick-swing of the youthful and eager Hornets players, sniping away with 23 three pointers in 44 attempts, often seemingly enough alone that they had to check if there was a timeout. Bulls players and coach Jim Boylen insisted it could be remedied.

So the Bulls watched a replay of their flaws and faults in the 126-125 defeat and then headed to the gym at Christian Brothers University, a private school on a leafy campus on Memphis' east side. Balls were bouncing, sneakers were squeaking and music was blaring, the modern NBA sound machine, as Lauri Markkanen approached Boylen at center court before practice.

"I had 35 and 17, coach," Markkanen said about his virtual career statistical night. "And I didn't even play well. I think I can play better."

"I said, ‘I think you probably can play better,'" Boylen said later in relating the encounter. "He played hard. When he plays hard, he's a really good player. I've always said when the lights come on, he's a different cat. The lights came on and he was ready to roll. I think he is a special player."

Overlooked and perhaps unappreciated amidst the loss to a rebuilding Charlotte team and Zach LaVine's late driving lay-up score when the Bulls trailed by three was perhaps the best overall game of Markkanen's three-year NBA career.

And that despite the seven footer known for his shooting missing six of his seven three-point attempts.

"He didn't shoot the ball well from three and still had 30-some points," marveled veteran Thad Young. "That should tell you how capable he is of having a big night when he starts off aggressive. That's a sign for him being a big time guy."

Most of the team's star attention this preseason was on the possibilities with LaVine and the rapid development of rookie Coby White. Markkanen, who is generally shy with a subtle and puckish sense of humor, often seemed disengaged. But once it mattered, Markkanen mattered more than most.

The graceful seven footer had one of the league's best debut games this season, third in scoring, fifth in rebounding and eighth in field goal attempts among all players. It quietly—as much as 35 and 17 can be—was one of the elite games of Markkanen's career, tied with his career scoring high and surpassing every game in his rookie season, including his 33 points against Kristaps Porzinigis in Madison Square Garden. Last season, Markkanen had more than 17 rebounds in a game twice, the only games to rival Wednesday's when he had 31 points, 17 rebounds and 10 of 12 free throws in the four-overtime Atlanta game and his career game of 35 points, 15 rebounds and eight of nine free throws a week earlier against Boston.

That those games were wins, however, was about all that mattered to Markkanen.

"The stats are a thing I don't care about," Markkanen insisted, and with him as opposed to some others one can tell he's being sincere. "Even if you have 35 and 17 and you lose the game, it doesn't matter. I need to do what the team needs me to do to help the team win. Obviously wasn't able to do enough last night."

The relative ease with which Markkanen recorded the extraordinary statistics was exceptional. If he can do that consistently with LaVine's talent—watch out Grizzlies, Zach was frustrated in the opener—the Bulls could have one of the league's best offensive combinations.

"His offensive skill set is way better than I thought," Young said about Markkanen. "He has the ability to shoot the ball, but he also has the ability to put the ball on the floor and drive the basketball. It makes it difficult when he's out there dribbling the basketball and making plays because a lot of big guys are not used to that; it makes us more dynamic as a team. As he does, and when him and Zach get going together it makes us a hard team to stop.

"I've been in this league 13 years and seen a lot," Young added. "I know when I see potential in guys and I see a lot of potential in those guys."

Neither LaVine nor Markkanen is regarded as a top defender, and that is not likely to change a great deal, especially with Markkanen being asked to play a lot of center. It's easy to forget the centers have to run the full 94 feet both ways, and what separated Markkanen against the Hornets was his drives to the basket and second shots with five offensive rebounds. He's not a powerful player yet, so can he keep that up?

Markkanen drew raves his rookie season even as nagging injuries cost him 14 games. But when he missed the first two months last season with an elbow injury, came back slowly and then crashed after the four-overtime game and missed the last seven games with a health scare that proved unfounded Markkanen dropped from the radar of the league's star gazers.

When Sports Illustrated preseason made one of those top 100 lists, Markkanen barely made it at No. 84. He got to No. 50 in some others. Challenging the basket, shooting out of the post and climbing on the boards, Markkanen shot out of the season's starting blocks looking like a top 10 talent. Imagine if he just made a few of the shots which are so routine for him.

"The main thing was to be aggressive and attack (against the Hornets)," Markkanen said. "Not just shoot jump shots; get to the rim. That was the main goal. There are a lot of things I can do better. I missed a lot of easy shots, too. Definitely, I can improve. That's been my thing (threes), but I am trying to expand my game a little bit. It makes me and the team harder to guard, keeps the defenses honest."

"There are things I did throughout my first two years I need to get better at," Markkanen said. "I'm not looking back too much with the games coming now and having to stay ready to play and get better. I don't think I did anything special last night. I thought I did it off the system, on the pick and roll and going to the basket. To see I can do that, of course, it give some hope that's where I can push myself going forward."

coming-off-one-of-the-leagues-best-debuts-this-season-lauri-markkanen-is-ready-for-year-3

Coming off one of the league's best debuts this season, Lauri Markkanen is ready for Year 3

Bulls.com

lauri-markkanen-all-star-weekend-day-2

Lauri Markkanen All-Star Weekend Day 2

nba-all-star-weekend-day-1

NBA All-Star Weekend Day 1

The Bulls Sunday conclude camp with the first preseason game, 6 p.m. Sunday in the United Center against Nikola Mirotic and the New Orleans Pelicans.

As camp goes, it feels like it was a rainy week when someone stole all the cords for making the friendship lanyards, the ice cream machine was broken, the internet was out and the only movies were Son of Mask and Kazaam.

That was Paxson's response Saturday morning in the Advocate Center in the wake of the news from Friday night that all-rookie forward Lauri Markkanen will be out six to eight weeks with an elbow sprain sustained during a practice scrimmage Thursday. It was not initially considered serious, but Markkanen then experienced worsening symptoms overnight, leading to an MRI and diagnosis. His elbow will be immobilized with a brace.

Earlier in the week, Denzel Valentine sustained a left ankle sprain that is expected to keep him out one to two weeks. Valentine last year had surgery on that same left ankle after multiple sprains during his rookie season.

Thus the Bulls begin the abbreviated five-game preseason with two of their main rotation players injured and, at least, Markkanen unavailable for opening night in Philadelphia Oct. 18.

Coach Fred Hoiberg said Jabari Parker, who had been expected to start at and learn small forward, now will start at power forward Sunday with Justin Holiday moving in at small forward. Hoiberg added that the injuries will open early unanticipated opportunities for players like rookie Chandler Hutchison and Antonio Blakeney. Fellow rookie Wendell Carter Jr. sat out practice Friday with a shoulder problem. But he experienced no further issues and will play, as expected, with the reserves in the Sunday opener. He will back up starting center Robin Lopez.

Bobby Portis will remain in his reserve role to support Parker. Though because it's the first exhibition game, there will be limited playing time and most everyone but the new free agents likely will play.

"It's not deflating," insisted Paxson. "It's just disappointing for Lauri. He had such a good summer. We talked about (at media day) if we stay healthy (it being our early advantage). So you almost have to laugh at it. It's such that it has to be immobilized for a good period of time to heal. It could've been a lot worse. It could've been something that was torn and required surgery. It will take time to heal. We're being careful with the timeframe. He's so important to us that we want to make sure he's healthy. Like we've tried to do with all our guys, we won't rush him back.

"He can do some things on a bike," Paxson added. "But you can never replicate what you do on the floor. He won't be able to do those (weight lifting) type of things for the next month or so. We've had our fair share (of injuries). Sometimes you wonder why. But this is sports. You just have to move on. The games are going to come. We're going to have to play them. Hopefully the continuity we have right now through camp helps us."

It's surely a major setback for the Bulls in what appeared to be a potentially optimistic beginning with a core of young players prepared to not only assume new roles, but learn to develop that vital chemistry. That's perhaps the biggest pause since coordination with Markkanen among regulars like Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine was such an important element for these players.

Plus, there's the issue with Parker. He was being schooled almost exclusively at small forward to learn that position because Markkanen is a fixture now at power forward. Parker suggested there's little difference between the two forward positions. Not exactly the opinion of his coach.

"I'm going to start Jabari at the four and he's maybe had five reps at the four the whole preseason," said Hoiberg. "I've really been trying to get him to play one position and learn the three because it's so much different. You have to get out in front of the ball running the wing. Now he's got to change his approach as the inbounder and he'll be trailing the play more. So we're going to have to keep it very basic tomorrow just based on the fact that he has not had a lot of reps at the four position. We love Bobby's energy and the role that he's played pretty much since he's been here is that sixth man, so that was really the decision."

"This is part of it," acknowledged Hoiberg of yet another opening week mishap from Derrick's Rose's facial fracture to the Portis/Mirotic fight last year. "A lot of teams go through what we're going through right now and you just have to make the best of the situation. Guys just have to understand that they're going to get a great opportunity. This is going to put Chandler in a position to get some really good quality minutes here early. Antonio will get minutes, especially with Denzel out right now with his ankle. So that's a big part of this. You've got to be ready to take advantage of situations when these types of things present themselves.

"He's (Markkanen) just been playing unbelievably well," said Hoiberg.

It's certainly a reverse for Markkanen, who not only had added almost 20 pounds of what seemed to be muscle and strength, but came to camp so much more relaxed and confident than in what proved to be an exceptional rookie season. He seemed primed for a potential All-Star season after being the team's leading scorer last season among those who played all season.

Befitting his enhanced assuredness, Markkanen agreed to meet with media Saturday morning even though it is not required of injured player. Markkanen appeared poised and even puckish as he quipped, "Now I can work on my lefty a little bit.

"Obviously, it's disappointing to be out," Markkanen agreed. "It's such a long offseason and I worked hard and was just ready to play basketball again. I don't know how long it's going to take, but I'm going to be right back. A normal basketball play; we had a bunch of guys going for a rebound and I don't know exactly what happened, but I feel like my arm got stuck somewhere.

"You know the feeling like it gets stuck somewhere and you're like, ‘Oh that scared me,' but nothing happened? So that's how it felt, a little sore," Markkanen related. "But then I woke up in the middle of the night. It was getting worse, and then Friday morning, it was worse than when it actually happened.

"It's probably the longest period of time I'm going to be out," said Markkanen, who missed 14 games with injuries and a personal absence last season, mostly back problems. "It's a minor setback. Hopefully, I can be even a little better than I am right now. You can always improve other things. They told me that I can start doing conditioning right away, so hopefully I'm not going to get out of shape. I'm going to be working on that every day. I know my shot is going to be there. I'm not worried about that.

"Yeah, I want to be out there for the guys," Markkanen said. "It just felt like now we have all the guys healthy and we were ready to get into it. So that's why it's more disappointing to have someone out. I know the guys will step up even more. They already have. I'm looking forward to watching these guys and getting back out there."

lauri-markkanen-out-6-8-weeks

Lauri Markkanen out 6-8 Weeks

lauri-markkanen-workout

Lauri Markkanen Workout

chikstrycharz

GETTING TO KNOW THE NEW BULLS: Lauri Markkanen

CAREER THUS FAR: The Bulls and their fans have high hopes for Markkanen, the 7th overall pick in the 2017 Draft who came to the team as one of the centerpieces of the deal that sent Jimmy Butler to Minnesota. Markkanen made waves as a 7-foot sharpshooter in his one season collegially here in the states at Arizona, where he was named First-Team All Pac-12 as a freshman, but he really turned heads late this summer at the EuroBasket tournament. Representing his home country of Finland, Markkanen was a force in the tournament, averaging a team-leading 19.5 points (7th in the tournament) and 5.7 rebounds on 53% shooting (including 48% from downtown). Markkanen gave his team a scoring punch it had lacked in recent years, as they qualified for the knockout round of the tournament for the first time in their history before falling to Italy.

FUN FACT: Both of Markkanen’s parents were professional basketball players, and his father Pekka played over 120 games for the Finland national team himself.

getting-to-know-lauri-markkanen

Getting to know: Lauri Markkanen

none

Presented By

AT&T

<a title="Bulls Play-In Tournament Tickets are On Sale Now" href="https://www.nba.com/bulls/postseason">Bulls Play-In Tournament Tickets are On Sale Now!</a>