SALT LAKE CITY — For former Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen, NBA All-Star Weekend felt like a coming-out party.
“I’m just soaking it all in,” Markkanen said during All-Star media day Saturday. “The experience is definitely a little bit different when you’re actually part of the All-Star Game, but being in your hometown, it feels great. The amount of people that are supporting here, it’s great.”
He produced consistently for the Bulls in his first four seasons in the league but never lived up to the hopes of a No. 7 pick in the 2017 draft. After he left Chicago in a trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers, he suffered a stagnant season heightened by a poor fit on the roster.
But things changed when Markkanen landed in Utah in September as part of a blockbuster trade for Donovan Mitchell. Markkanen is averaging 24.9 points and 8.6 assists while shooting a career-high 51.3% overall and 41.3% from 3-point range. And the Jazz fan base has embraced the Finnish center.
Although it took several years for Markkanen to make this step up, Mitchell feels his potential was well-known throughout the league from the start.
“I’ve known Lauri since high school,” Mitchell said. “He’s been this type of player. I think he’s just gotten an opportunity on a national stage where everybody’s getting consistent playing time and playing a consistent role. He’s a hell of a player.”
For Markkanen, it was all a matter of learning through hardship. His time in Cleveland was a low point in his career because of playing out of position at the three — but that also helped him grow as a shooter, building skills that have fueled his ability to provide a constant mismatch in Utah.
Markkanen’s shooting this season has been strong enough to earn him a nod in the 3-point contest, competing against Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard, who won the event Saturday night, among other top talent.
“It’s just the mental preparation and that side of the game,” Markkanen, 25, said. “Physically getting better and being able to take advantage of mismatches and the mindset of the game and just seeing different things. From center, power forward, small forward, whatever, I did a lot of different stuff, so I think that’s helped me.”
Hundreds of fans lined up to meet Markkanen during an NBA crossover event Friday. Whenever he was introduced on the Jumbotron — at the Rising Stars game Friday night, at the open practice Saturday — he was greeted by an overflow of cheers. Markkanen jerseys dotted every street as fans milled about downtown Salt Lake City ahead of the game.
For Markkanen, his breakout season has offered validation and reassurance after the his early struggles.
“It’s not easy every time when you’re having those down moments,” Markkanen said. “But you can’t really stop believing in yourself. It’s easy to start doubting yourself and your skill set when things are not going your way, but you’ve just got to keep going and keep believing the opportunity is going to present itself. And then you’ve got to take it.”
