Lauri Markkanen Poised for Bounce-Back Season with Utah Jazz After EuroBasket Success

Lauri Markkanen is identified as a strong fantasy basketball bounce-back candidate for the Utah Jazz in the 2025-26 season, following a down year in 2024-25. Last season, he averaged 19.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and a combined 1.1 steals-plus-blocks in 47 regular-season games, a dip from his previous two seasons where he averaged at least 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists. Markkanen also struggled with his three-point shooting, hitting only 34.6 percent on 8.5 attempts per game, marking his second-lowest percentage with the highest volume of his career. Despite this, he showed star-caliber potential representing Finland in the 2025 EuroBasket. His ability to translate that European success into the NBA, coupled with staying healthy, will be key to his anticipated rebound.