The easy victory of the Jazz against the Lakers combined with the defeat of the Suns in Philadelphia offers a new leader in the Western Conference, and it’s Utah! Ranked very far in the “previews” at the start of the season, the Jazz won 8 out of 11 matches, and the team proved that it was not just a feat. Besides, Lauri Markkanen explain to The Athletic that the more we make the Jazz a surprise team, the more it motivates the players.
“I think it clearly feeds us, and after two wins, we talked about it in the video session” says the Finn. “We said to ourselves that we hate the fact that every morning we discover that each of our victories is considered a surprise. We use that as motivation to rack up as many wins as possible, and prove people wrong. »
The former Bulls and Cavaliers interior wears a 3rd jersey in three years, and he explains that he very quickly accepted the fact of joining the Jazz. Of course, he was surprised at first, but seeing the squad and the staff, he felt that there was something nice to do. Even on an individual level since he plays like an… All-Star according to Malik Beasley.
“Personally, it has always been a goal to participate. It’s something that motivates me, night after night, and I don’t want to disappoint Malik.” he smiled. “What I know is that by playing like that, I’m useful to the team and all I want is to win matches. »
” It’s easier here to play the basketball I love with Will Hardy.”
He also recalls that his Euro at 27.9 points on average did him good mentally. At the head of Finland, he stood up to the best European players (Giannis, Jokic, Doncic…), who are, for some, MVPs and he proved to himself that he could be a leader by The example. Something to forget the gloomy years in Chicago.
“When it was difficult, I put even more pressure on myself” he concludes about his complicated debut in the NBA. “I had come to a point where I wasn’t having fun the last two years in Chicago. That’s why Cleveland was important to me, to live a pleasant season with such a group. That’s also why it’s easier here to play the basketball I love with Will Hardy. »
| Lauri Markkanen | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 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 | 10 | 34 | 51.5 | 29.9 | 85.0 | 2.3 | 7.1 | 9.4 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 22.2 |
| Total | 292 | 30 | 44.4 | 36.2 | 85.0 | 1.1 | 5.7 | 6.8 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 15.6 | |
