Lauri Markkanen has gone through a lot just to finally reach that stardom and immense potential he possesses, and winning the Most Improved Player this season can only mean the entire world to him.
Markkanen told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype that he would be happy to see the fruit of his labor by winning the MIP plum as now the centerpiece of the Utah Jazz.
“I think it would be great,” said Markkanen about winning the MIP trophy. “With the regular season about to end and I start hearing that stuff, it would be a pretty cool trophy to have at home. I take a lot of pride in the hard work and, like becoming an All-Star, knowing what I’ve gone through and being able to bounce back from that would mean a lot for me.
“Hopefully, I get it done. It would be pretty cool.”
Upon landing in Salt Lake City, Markkanen quickly saw himself in front of the newest Jazz era, taking the keys to the franchise’s promising future. His 2022-23 campaign has been a major revelation, claiming his first All-Star nod upon averaging 25.6 points, 8.6 boards, and 1.9 dimes in 49.9 percent shooting.
Given his impact on Utah and the elevation of his stat line from his one-year run as a Cleveland Cavalier, it is safe to assume that Markkanen is the sure winner of the award.
