The Utah Jazz have not been impressive this season. They are 5-8 on the season, and they struggle in a lot of areas. However, their double-overtime win over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night was as impressive as it gets.
Utah was down 13 points at one point in the third quarter, but they were able to come back and win the game thanks to Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George. The duo combined for 80 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. George scored 33 points, including the game-winning three with time running down in the second overtime. But Markkanen stole the show.
Markkanen scored 47 of his own points to up his season average to 30.6 points per game. The 28-year-old is shooting 47.9% from the floor and 38.9% from beyond the arc. The offensive production Markkanen has produced has put him in elite company in Jazz franchise history.
The former first-round pick is only the second player to average over 30 points per game through the team’s first 13 games in the history of the Utah Jazz, as reported by Ben Anderson of KSLsports.
Adrian Dantley is the only other player to do it, and he did it three times for the Jazz. He retired from the NBA in 1991.
Lauri Markkanen Has Been Elite For the Utah Jazz
GettyLauri Markkanen is averaging over 30 points per game this season.
The Jazz acquired Markkanen from the Cleveland Cavaliers when they traded away Donovan Mitchell. Before coming to Utah, the former first-round pick’s career-high in points per game was just 18.7. That was his second year in the league. The inconsistency in scoring is a reason why he has been traded twice. However, he has found his home in Utah.
With the Jazz, Markkanen immediately became an elite scorer. He averaged 25.7 points per game in his first year with the team. This was followed by 23.2 points per game in his second year in Salt Lake City. The production fell off last year, but he was dealing with some injuries, mainly in his back.
This year, he is averaging 30.6 points per game, putting him fifth in the NBA. He has had to take on a bigger role with the team since the Walker Kessler injury. Kessler will miss the entirety of the season, meaning Markkanen will have to keep this pace for the whole year.
Could the Jazz Trade Markkanen?
GettyLauri Markkanen has been traded twice in his career.
Markkanen’s production this season puts his trade value through the roof. Any team that wants the star forward would have to give up an arm and a leg to acquire him. For reference, the Memphis Grizzlies received five first-round picks for Desmond Bane. It is reasonable to believe Markkanen’s return would generate the same or a larger return.
Despite a few rumors, though, Markkanen will most likely be staying in Utah. His contract runs through the 2028/29 season, and he is owed over $45 million each year. It would be hard for Utah to find a suitor willing to give up that much capital for that large a contract.
Expect Markkanen to stay in Utah for the time being, and the Jazz should be ecstatic about the player he is becoming.
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