Lauri Markkanen is officially an All-Star

Markkanen, who was selected as a reserve by the 30 NBA coaches, is playing in his first All-Star game. Markkanen will take part in the West All-Star team's competition. Markkanen, a former All-American at Arizona, has experienced the growth of his NBA career in his first year with the Jazz. The Jazz, who began play on Thursday in ninth place in the Western Conference, are led by the 25-year-averages old's of 24.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.

Markkanen, who spent the 2021–22 season with Cleveland, was dealt to the Jazz this past summer. Markkanen spent his first four seasons of professional baseball with Chicago, who took him with the seventh overall choice in the 2017 draught. Markkanen has a field goal percentage of 52.1% and a 3-point percentage of 43.4% in 48 games, both of which are career highs. Markkanen has over 20 points in 19 straight contests.