After several months of games, it is now clear that Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz is having the best season of his career.
Since the start of 2022-23, Markkanen has proven that he is the best player on his team and truly one of the most promising and exciting young stars in the Western Conference.
He has been producing amazing numbers since opening night and has stayed very consistent night after night.
Lauri Markkanen over the last 11 Games:
29.5 PPG
9.9 RPG
50% FG
40% 3P
91% FT pic.twitter.com/yhkDbjW2Tc— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 24, 2023
His last 11 games are a prime example of that.
During those matches, Markkanen has averaged 29.5 points and 9.9 rebounds on 50% from the field and 40% from beyond the three-point line.
That means that his season averages are currently 24.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists.
Compare that to last season with the Cleveland Cavaliers: 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.
Markkanen’s huge leap forward shows what can happen when a player finds a team they really fit with.
Markkanen came to the Jazz as the team was looking like a bottom-tier team.
They had traded away Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, and others and were set to tank during 2022-23.
Instead of just accepting their fates, Markkanen and his crew fought hard to prove themselves.
That is exactly what they did and they started the season as the best team in the league.
Of course, things didn’t stay that way and the Jazz are currently eighth in the West.
However, their future looks promising and the front office wants to build it around Markkanen.
In fact, inside reporting says that the team is willing to make some deals in the next few weeks and in the next offseason.
But they won’t let anyone touch Markkanen, who has staked his claim as the centerpiece of this up-and-coming squad.
NEXT: Mike Conley Is Continuing To Turn Heads As A Veteran