It has been an interesting season for the Utah Jazz.
The team was the biggest surprise of the year when they started out so strongly in October, quickly rising to the top of the Western Conference.
That didn’t last forever and eventually, the Jazz slid down the standings, all the way to the 10th spot.
Now they are the 7th seed with a 24-24 record.
Even though they aren’t as successful as they were a few months ago, the team is still very exciting and promising with a lot of up-and-coming talent.
Lauri Markkanen so far in January:
– 30.4 PPG
– 9.7 RPG
– 64.8% true shooting pic.twitter.com/MmnYJG8ElU— The Lead (@TheLeadSM) January 19, 2023
The team’s biggest star is Lauri Markkanen, who has made a huge name for himself in the 2022-23 season.
And his great season is continuing.
So far in 2023, Markkanen has averaged 30.4 points and 9.7 rebounds on a 64.8% true shooting percentage.
On Wednesday night, the Jazz put down the Los Angeles Clippers.
Markkanen was all over that game: he scored 34 points and 12 rebounds.
Looking at the contrast between this season and last is a study of a player who has blossomed in huge ways.
Last year, he averaged 14.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists on 44.5%.
This season, he’s producing 24.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on 52%.
The Finnish star is gaining attention from just about everyone because of the way he’s been playing.
He is spoken of as a contender for Most Improved Player and has a strong shot at making the All-Star Game for the first time in his career.
But more importantly, Markkanen is keeping playoff hopes alive for the Jazz.
During the summer, almost everyone thought that the Jazz would be a team focused on tanking rather than winning.
But Markkanen is giving fans something to cheer about and something to believe in.
NEXT: NBA Player Celebrates A Rising Star