Lauri Markkanen named NBA Most Improved Player of the Year / News - Basketnews.com

Markkanen became the first player to win the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year award in the Jazz franchise history.

Credit: AP/Scanpix Credit AP/Scanpix

After becoming a cornerstone of the Utah Jazz rebuild, Lauri Markkanen has been awarded his first trophy in his NBA career.

2-pointers this season

56%29,2Points made:29,2Accuracy:56,0%Place in standings:19Record max:41Record min:18Most made 2FGs:Lauri MarkkanenTeamNBAStatisticsSchedule

The Finnish forward has been named the NBA Most Improved Player of the Year. It's the first such award in the Jazz franchise history.

"It feels amazing. ... It feels great," Markkanen said after winning the award. "I didn't wake up at 2 AM for nothing. Obviously, a huge privilege to be in this position. Just got to thank everybody back in Utah who made this possible, and my family."

Compared to the 2021-22 season when he averaged 14.8 points and 5.7 rebounds, Markkanen increased his numbers significantly, averaging 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds.

Earlier this season, the forward became the first player to make 100 dunks and 200 three-pointers in a single season. The closest player to such an achievement was Kevin Durant during the 2013-14 season with 146 dunks and 192 threes.

Markkanen became an All-Star for the first time in his career this year.

With the Finnish forward on the roster, the Jazz overperformed the pre-season predictions and finished the season with 37 wins in their account.

After the season ended, Markkanen headed off to his home country of Finland to fulfill a mandatory military service.

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