Lauri Markkanen's Success and Achievements in Timeline

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

Lauri Markkanen, nicknamed "the Finnisher," is a Finnish professional basketball player currently playing for the Utah Jazz in the NBA and the Finland national team. Born to Finnish basketball players Pekka and Riikka Markkanen, he also comes from an athletic family, being the younger brother of footballer Eero Markkanen. Markkanen is a prominent figure in Finnish basketball and a key player for his NBA team.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1995: Most opening-day points since Michael Jordan

Lauri Markkanen tied 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 breaks 50-point mark

On April 7, 1998, Karl Malone broke the 50-point mark.

2016: Top Scorer in FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship

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

January 2017: Recognized as the best shooting 7-footer

In January 2017, SB Nation regarded Lauri Markkanen as "the best shooting 7-footer college basketball has ever seen". Within the same month Markkanen was selected as Pac-12 Player of the Week as well as the Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week

March 2017: Named to All-American team

On March 6, 2017, Lauri Markkanen was selected to the third team All-American team by the Associated Press, NBC Sports, USA Today, and the Sporting News. He was also a first team All-Pac-12 selection.

October 2017: NBA Debut with the Bulls

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

January 2018: Leading Scorer Among Finnish NBA Players

On January 28, 2018, after scoring seventeen points against the Milwaukee Bucks, Lauri Markkanen surpassed Hanno Möttölä (715) as the career leading scorer among NBA players from Finland.

May 2018: Named to NBA All-Rookie First Team

On May 22, 2018, Lauri Markkanen was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.

2022: Double-Doubles

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

2022: EuroBasket Performance

In 2022, at the EuroBasket tournament, 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. The win also lead to Finland's first quarterfinal appearance in 55 years.

2022: Previous Finland National Team Record

In preparation for EuroBasket 2025, on August 8, 2025 Lauri Markkanen scored a career-high 48 points, going 17-from-23 from the field, in a friendly win over Belgium, surpassing his own previous record from 2022.

January 2023: Career-High Points Against Houston Rockets

On January 5, 2023, Lauri Markkanen put up a then career-high with 49 points in a win against the Houston Rockets.

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 experienced a career resurgence with the Jazz, earning his first All-Star selection and winning the Most Improved Player Award. 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, marking the first time a basketball player has ever won the award.

January 2024: Named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week

On January 15, 2024, Lauri Markkanen was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week, for the first time in his career. On January 18, it was reported that the Jazz are determined to build around Markkanen long-term as their franchise player, and are expected to re-negotiate and extend his current deal in summer 2024.

August 2024: Signs Contract Extension with the Jazz

On August 7, 2024, Lauri Markkanen signed a contract extension with the Jazz, on a five-year deal worth $238 million, surpassing Kimi Räikkönen to become the highest earning Finnish athlete ever.

August 8, 2025: Career-High Points Against Belgium

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

2025: EuroBasket Semi-Final Appearance

At the EuroBasket 2025, Lauri Markkanen averaged 23.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, leading Finland to a historic semi-final appearance. Finland ultimately finished 4th, making it the best result in the country's history. During the tournament, Markkanen surpassed 500 points scored in EuroBasket career, as the second Finnish player behind Timo Lampén. He was also named in the All-Tournament Second Team.