Lauri Markkanen's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Lauri Markkanen.

Lauri Elias Markkanen, nicknamed "the Finnisher", is a Finnish professional basketball player currently playing for the Utah Jazz in the NBA. He also represents the Finland national team. Born into a basketball family, both his parents, Pekka and Riikka Markkanen, were basketball players. He is also the younger brother of footballer Eero Markkanen.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1995: Most opening-day points by a Chicago Bull

Markkanen began the season tying a career-high with 35 points along with 17 rebounds in a one-point loss to the Charlotte Hornets, the most opening-day points by a Chicago Bull since Michael Jordan in 1995.

April 1998: Karl Malone's 50-point game

On 7 April 1998, Karl Malone was the last Jazz player to break the 50-point mark in a regular season game.

2016: FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship

In 2016, Lauri Markkanen was the top scorer at the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship for Finland U20, averaging 24.9 points per game and being named to the All-Tournament Team.

January 2017: Recognized as Top Shooting 7-Footer and Receives Accolades

In January 2017, SB Nation called Lauri Markkanen "the best shooting 7-footer college basketball has ever seen." That same month, he was selected as Pac-12 Player of the Week and Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week and was added to multiple award watchlists.

March 2017: Career High Blocks Against Arizona State

On 4 March 2017, Lauri Markkanen recorded a career-high three blocks against Arizona State in the regular season finale.

March 2017: All-American and All-Pac-12 Selection

On 6 March 2017, Lauri Markkanen was selected to the third team All-American team by multiple news outlets. He was also a first team All-Pac-12 selection.

October 2017: NBA Debut and Record

On 19 October 2017, Lauri Markkanen made his NBA debut with the Bulls, scoring 17 points. On 24 October 2017, Markkanen set an NBA record for most 3-pointers in the first three games of an NBA career with ten 3-pointers.

January 2018: Becomes Finland's Leading NBA Scorer

After scoring seventeen points against the Milwaukee Bucks on 28 January 2018, Markkanen surpassed Hanno Möttölä to become the career leading scorer among NBA players from Finland.

January 2018: Career-High Performance Against the New York Knicks

On 10 January 2018, Lauri Markkanen played a career-high 46 minutes, scored a career-high 33 points, and made a career-high eight 3-pointers in a double overtime win against the New York Knicks, becoming only the second seven-foot player to achieve this.

May 2018: Named to NBA All-Rookie First Team

On 22 May 2018, Lauri Markkanen was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team after leading the Bulls in rebounds and finishing fourth in scoring during his rookie season.

2022: Recorded 28 double-doubles

During the 2022-2023 NBA season, Lauri Markkanen recorded 28 double-doubles in 66 games played, making it his single-season's record.

2022: EuroBasket Tournament and Record-Setting Performance

In EuroBasket 2022, during the Round of 16, Lauri Markkanen scored 43 points to lead Finland to a win over Croatia, setting a new all-time record for a Finnish player at the EuroBasket.

2022: Previous record

On August 8, 2025, Lauri Markkanen scored a career-high 48 points, going 17-from-23 from the field, in a 105–62 friendly win over Belgium in the preparation for EuroBasket 2025. He set a Finland national team record, surpassing his own previous record from 2022.

January 2023: Career-High Points and All-Star Selection

On 5 January 2023, Lauri Markkanen scored a then career-high 49 points against the Houston Rockets. On 2 February 2023, he was named to his first NBA All-Star game, becoming the first NBA All-Star born in a Nordic country.

April 24, 2023: Named NBA Most Improved Player

On April 24, 2023, Lauri Markkanen was named the 2022–23 NBA Most Improved Player.

2023: All-Star Selection and Most Improved Player Award

In 2023, Lauri Markkanen earned his first All-Star selection and won the NBA Most Improved Player Award after a career resurgence with the Utah Jazz. He also led Finland in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup tournament.

2023: Finnish Athlete of the Year

In 2023, Lauri Markkanen was named the Finnish Athlete of the Year, becoming the first basketball player to win the award.

January 2024: Western Conference Player of the Week and Commitment from Jazz

In January 2024, Lauri Markkanen was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his career. It was also reported that the Jazz were committed to building around Markkanen long-term.

August 2024: Signs Contract Extension with Jazz

On 7 August 2024, Lauri Markkanen signed a five-year contract extension with the Jazz worth $238 million, becoming the highest earning Finnish athlete ever.

August 8, 2025: Career-High Score Against Belgium

On August 8, 2025, Lauri Markkanen scored a career-high 48 points in a friendly win over Belgium, setting a new Finland national team record.

2025: EuroBasket Tournament

At the EuroBasket 2025, Lauri Markkanen led Finland to a historic semi-final appearance, ultimately finishing 4th. He surpassed 500 points scored in his EuroBasket career and was named to the All-Tournament Second Team.