“ I was able to take things calmly and not worry about them. » To hear Lauri Markkanenit is difficult to realize that its summer 2024 has been relatively eventful.
Spurs, Kings, Pelicans, Wolves, Heat… Many teams in the league were closely following the situation inside the Jazz. Among these, there was also a lot of talk about the Warriors. However, the Finn ended up calling the end of the game, at the beginning of August, by extending with the Jazz for five years and an additional 220 million dollars.
Lauri Markkanen got used to the “noises”
“ It's cool to know that you are wanted and that means you did something good on the field that teams want to have you “, likes the 27-year-old when asked about interest from Californians in an interview with Marc Stein.
“Cool”, and not really stressful because he had been through a similar situation in the past.
“ Earlier in my career it was (noisier), but now it's easier. I was able to go home and see my family. I already experienced this once during my free agency as a protected free agent, moving from Chicago to Cleveland. So it was easier, for sure », he testifies.
The memory of 2021
Lauri Markkanen is referring here to the summer of 2021, when, after weeks of waiting, the Bulls player at the time landed the contract he was waiting for: $67 million over four years (3+1) . But this extension was part of a “sign-and-trade” sending him to Cleveland. Where he will only stay one season before being traded again, this time to Utah.
In comparison, the last few weeks have been much calmer.
“ Contractually, we couldn't do anything before August. I knew that if anything happened, my agent would let me know. So I was able to stay home with my family and train, it was easier », Describes MIP 2023, determined to assume its leadership role with its young team.
| Lauri Markkanen | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | CHI | 68 | 30 | 43.4 | 36.2 | 84.3 | 1.2 | 6.3 | 7.5 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 15.2 |
| 2018-19 | CHI | 52 | 32 | 43.0 | 36.1 | 87.2 | 1.4 | 7.6 | 9.0 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 18.7 |
| 2019-20 | CHI | 50 | 30 | 42.5 | 34.4 | 82.4 | 1.2 | 5.1 | 6.3 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 14.7 |
| 2020-21 | CHI | 51 | 26 | 48.0 | 40.2 | 82.6 | 0.7 | 4.6 | 5.3 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 13.6 |
| 2021-22 | KEY | 61 | 31 | 44.5 | 35.8 | 86.8 | 1.0 | 4.7 | 5.7 | 1.3 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 14.8 |
| 2022-23 | UTH | 66 | 34 | 49.9 | 39.1 | 87.5 | 2.0 | 6.7 | 8.6 | 1.9 | 2.1 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 25.6 |
| 2023-24 | UTH | 55 | 33 | 48.0 | 39.9 | 89.9 | 2.2 | 6.0 | 8.2 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 23.2 |
| Total | 403 | 31 | 45.9 | 37.5 | 86.6 | 1.4 | 5.9 | 7.3 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 18.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
