Quick Info
| Profession | Professional basketball player |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Finnish |
| Date of Birth | 22/05/1997 |
| Age | 29 years |
| Birthplace | Vantaa, Finland |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
Latest News about Lauri Markkanen
Markkanen was ruled out of a Utah Jazz preseason game against the Denver Nuggets due to neck soreness. He returned to action shortly afterwards and went on to lead the team in scoring in a preseason win over Denver on 04/10/2026 with 17 points.
Markkanen recovered from his hip injury and played for Finland in a FIBA window, scoring 23 points in a 85-77 win over Hungary. The appearance signalled he had a clean bill of health heading into the 2026-27 NBA season.
Markkanen was ruled out of the Utah Jazz's 2025-26 regular season finale against the Lakers, ending a campaign in which he last played on 23 February. The Jazz were in a rebuilding phase during the season.
Markkanen was injured in a Utah Jazz practice in February 2026, with a source reporting right ankle and right hip issues that required an MRI. He had been averaging a career-high 26.7 points per game at the time. The hip injury kept him out for the rest of the regular season.
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Bio/Wiki
| Full Name | Lauri Elias Markkanen |
|---|---|
| Summary | Finnish professional basketball forward who plays for the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association and for the Finland national team. |
| Nickname | The Finnisher |
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in, listed) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 109 kg (240 lb, listed) |
| Position | Power forward / center |
| Jersey Number | 23 |
Educational Qualification(s)
| High School | Helsinki Basketball Academy, Helsinki, Finland |
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| College | University of Arizona (2016-2017) |
Personal Life
| Spouse | Verna Aho |
|---|---|
| Children | One son |
Relationships & More
| Agent | Michael (Boris) Lelchitski |
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Family
| Father | Pekka Markkanen, Finnish basketball player |
|---|---|
| Mother | Riikka Markkanen, Finnish basketball player |
| Siblings | Eero Markkanen, footballer |
Career
| Youth and Early Career | HBA-Marsky, Finnish second-tier league (2014-2016) | ||||||||
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| NBA Draft | 2017, first round, 7th overall, selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves and traded to the Chicago Bulls | ||||||||
| Teams |
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| Honours |
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| Career Highs |
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| Contract Extension | Four-year extension signed in August 2024, running through the 2028-29 season | ||||||||
| 2025-26 Season | Missed the final stretch of the season with a hip injury; averaged 26.7 points and 6.9 rebounds in 42 games |
Style Quotient
| Playing Style | Versatile forward known for perimeter shooting and scoring |
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Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Was selected seventh overall in the 2017 NBA draft and immediately traded from Minnesota to Chicago in a deal involving Jimmy Butler. | |
| 2. Earned First-team All-Pac-12 honours in his only college season at Arizona. | |
| 3. Was named Finnish Player of the Year multiple times between 2017 and 2024. |
