Lauri Markkanen Drops Season-High 40 Points; Jazz Star Expected 100% After Injury-Plagued Season

Lauri Markkanen recently delivered a season-high 40 points, adding 7 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal in 36 minutes during a 132-122 loss to the Hawks. This performance follows a 2023-24 season where injuries caused a slight step back, leading him to miss 17 of Utah's final 21 games and the Olympic Qualifying Tournament due to a right shoulder injury. He is expected to be 100 percent for training camp and is untradeable in 2024-25 after signing a five-year, $238 million extension this offseason. Markkanen's 2022-23 season was a breakout, earning him Most Improved Player with career-highs of 25.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.0 three-pointers, leading a surprising Jazz team. While Utah eyes the playoffs, the additions of John Collins and Walker Kessler could challenge his ability to repeat past heroics. His career has seen stints with the Cavaliers and Bulls, where he showed flashes of potential as a scoring big man.