LOS ANGELES. The steady drumming of basketballs carries into the hallway. Rap music rhythms the morning practices of the Utah Jazz in the UCLA gymnasium in Westwood. Lauri Markkanen makes three-point shots to the basket with ease. The Finn’s grip shows more relaxation and the joy of playing.
– We have a good team, good teammates and a good coaching team. It’s been nice to play. There have also been wins, so we will try to continue with it. The feeling is good, Markkanen tells Urheilu after training.
A few months ago, the situation was still different. Markkanen had bought a house in Cleveland in the summer. He would soon begin his second season with the Cavaliers. Then the bomb dropped: he was sold to the Utah Jazz on the eve of the European Championships. Inside Markkanen’s head, a rollercoaster of emotions swirled.
– Of course, the beginning was a shock. We were preparing for the European Championships. When I got to play in the games, I got my thoughts elsewhere. I was able to look away little by little and calmed down when I approached the situation more rationally.
The team was undergoing reconstruction. The Jazz had given up their star players From Donovan Mitchell and About Rudy Gobert. For Markkanen, who is playing his sixth NBA season, a seam opened up for a bigger role than before.
– This is a very good opportunity. We still have good guys here. We have shown since the beginning of the season that we can play the basket against anyone and succeed.
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Markkanen forced the Lakers to their knees
The Jazz showed their talent against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday with a 130-116 victory. Home team superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis couldn’t keep Markkas under control, who scored 27 points in the match. The playing time was a whopping 32.42 minutes.
– The match went as planned, says Markkanen.
Before the Lakers game, the team got a day off. Markkanen used it for recovery and body maintenance, as he has played an average of 33.8 minutes per match. That’s the most of any Jazz player.
– I try to use my days off so that I don’t sit around. I went to the gym with a physical trainer, got a little massage afterwards and went to the pool to do leg curls and jog. I got my legs moving a bit, Markkanen enumerates.
The Utah team, made up of many nationalities, has welded together in an exemplary fashion. Along with Markkanen, an American fullback moved from Cleveland Collin Sexton, so the group wasn’t exactly strange. Italian Simone Fontecchio brings a European mentality to a team that also has an Argentinian Leandro Bolmaro.
– I get along well with everyone, especially Sexton. I’m getting to know everyone better all the time, so everything is going well.
The players encourage each other in training and clap loudly. In the locker room, too, everyone is in unison, unlike last season.
– The atmosphere is good, no complaints. All the guys are ready to play every night. We have a hungry crew. Everyone has something to prove. It has moved us forward, admits Markkanen.
The team keeps close together even on free time.
– We eat together a lot, especially at away matches. Most of the guys are always there.
A dizzying leap towards the sharpest tip
The Jazz have been a surprise in the early season by winning seven of their first ten games. The team that was laughed at before the season is third in the western division.
Markkanen has averaged 22.2 points per game in the early season. He has also grabbed the former rebounds (9.4) from the team.
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The player has a smile on his face for a reason.
– It’s going well now, but you just have to continue developing as a player.
The man from Jyväskylä, who produced spectacular performances in the European Championships, is in NBA highlight videos night after night. He has taken a big role on the field, been involved in decision-making situations and received more responsibility than in Cleveland and Chicago.
– Yes, that’s what you want to be on the field when games are being decided. I feel that there is credit and I have been allowed to play. It feeds confidence on both ends. I have enjoyed getting the responsibility.
Markkanen gets unreserved praise as Utah’s head coach by Will Hardy.
– Without a doubt, he has exceeded our expectations. Lauri has shown that there is almost nothing he can’t do. He has good ball control, he is good everywhere, and he has shown that he knows how to play defense and attack, Hardy tells Urheilu.
– He has had a really impressive early season and we rely on him as much as possible.
Hardy, 34, is the NBA’s youngest head coach, emphasizing an unselfish style of play. It suits Markkane well, who has previously been accused of lacking selfishness.
– We get along well and I’m used to playing with a young head coach, just like in the summer, Markkanen refers to Susijengi’s coach Lassi Tuovi (35).
Salt Lake City – the new hometown is charming
Moving to a new state is a time-consuming process and Markkanen still lives in a hotel with his family. That includes the wife Verna and children Alvar (4) and Elsa (2).
– I hope we can move when we go home after this trip. Otherwise, we have adapted, and the city feels nice. The team and the organization have also helped a lot.
Markkanen admits that children give an extra boost to playing.
– Yes, it gives a boost on the field. It feels cool that they watch the games, and I see them in the home arena as well.
Friends and relatives back home in Finland also follow Markkanen’s activities closely. Encouraging messages are pouring in.
– I don’t know if the guys wake up to watch the games at night or if they just watch the results in the morning, but I try to play my best for them.