Chicago Bulls power forward Lauri Markkanen says he “got stronger this offseason.”

After the Bulls' season ended in 2018-19, Markkanen said he wanted to get stronger so he could absorb more contact on his drives to the hoop and finish in heavy traffic.

“I’m not running from that,” Markkanen told K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. “I think I got stronger this offseason. Weight-wise, I’m not that much heavier. But I feel stronger even than last year.

“On the court, I worked on my defense and some new ways to affect the game offensively.”

Markkanen missed the first 23 games of the 2018-19 season because of a right elbow injury he suffered in training camp. Once he returned to the lineup, Markkanen was the second-best player on the Bulls, behind only shooting guard Zach LaVine.

Markkanen averaged 18.7 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game when he came back while shooting 43.0 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from beyond the arc and 87.2 percent from the free-throw line. The stretch forward recorded 20 double-doubles.

The Bulls are building their team around LaVine, Markkanen, Otto Porter Jr., Wendell Carter Jr. and rookie Coby White. Chicago’s front office is hoping all five players help the team make the playoffs this season. The Bulls haven't been to the postseason since 2017.