Finnish Jazz forward na si Markkanen wagi ng NBA Most Improved award
Finnish forward Lauri Markkanen of NBA team Utah Jazz starts his military service at the Finnish Defence Forces Sports School in Santahamina, Helsinki, on April 17, 2023. (Photo by Antti Aimo-Koivisto / Lehtikuva / AFP) / Finland OUT
Pinangalanan ng NBA bilang 2023 Most Improved Player, ang Finnish forward na si Lauri Markkanen ng Utah Jazz makaraang mapataas ang kaniyang scoring average ng halos 11 points a game.
Nakuha ng 25-anyos na Finnish forward ang una niyang All-Star selection ngayong season at natapos sa career highs na 25.6 points at 1.9 assists, dagdag pa ang 8.6 rebounds a game.
Si Markkanen, na napataas ang kaniyang scoring average sa pamamagitan ng isang NBA-best 10.87 points a game ngayong season, ay mayroon ding career-best shooting averages na 49.9% mula sa floor at 87.5% mula sa free throw line para sa Jazz.
Sa isang panayam mula sa Helsinki, kung saan siya naroroon para sa Finland military service ay sinabi ni Markkanen, “It feels amazing. It’s a huge privilege to be in this position.”
Ang 7-footer (2.13m), na ang mga magulang ay kapwa pro basketball players, ay napiling seventh overall ng Minnesota sa 2017 NBA Draft at naglaro para sa Chicago at Cleveland bago na-trade sa Utah noong Setyembre ng nakalipas na taon, sa isang kasunduan na nagdala naman kay Donovan Mitchell sa Cavaliers.
Sabi pa ni Markkanen, “Just being in the right place at the right time. I really wasn’t the isolation player this year. I always give credit to guys finding me when I was open. I just tried to show up every night and be consistent. I really tried to learn and step into that leadership role in the locker room. I’m still working on that.”
Siya ang unang European player na nakakuha ng award pagkatapos ng Greek star na si Giannis Antetokounmpo ng Milwaukee noong 2017, at kaun-unahan ding Jazz player na nakakuha ng naturang award.
Ang iba pang naging finalists para sa award ay ang New York Knicks guard na si Jalen Brunson mula sa Estados Unidos at Canadian guard na si Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ng Oklahoma City Thunder.
© Agence France-Presse
