Dallas Mavericks power forward Dirk Nowitzki is arguably the best 7-footer who can shoot the ball from the 3-point line. However, that doesn’t mean that he’s the last of his kind. In fact, Chicago Bulls rookie Lauri Markkanen is regarded by some as the next Nowitzki.
The Finnish international joined the Bulls after being traded by the Minnesota Timberwolves in a package for Jimmy Butler. The No. 7 pick of the 2017 NBA Draft has since garnered new believers after being likened to the Mavs icon due to the similarities in their games.
And after the Bulls' double-overtime win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Markkanen finds himself sharing a page with Nowitzki on the NBA's book of records. The 7-foot rookie dialled in eight 3-pointers against another Nowitzki-like player in Kristaps Porzingis and the Knicks.
Markkanen's long distance makes were good enough to tie the Mavs superstar's record for most 3-pointers made in a game by a player standing at least seven-feet in height.
Lauri Markkanen has made 8 3-pt FG, tied for the most in a game by a 7-footer in NBA history (Dirk Nowitzki) pic.twitter.com/ia0v5j5ssk
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 11, 2018
Lauri Markkanen has been a revelation for Chicago in his first year, as no one expected him to be this good. But an unfortunate circumstance involving teammates Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis, that has since been patched up in a way, opened up a window of opportunity for him, and he has never looked back.
This shows the world that the young Bulls rookie has a lot of potential in store. Only time will tell as to when he can exceed the achievements made by the great Dirk Nowitzki when it's all said and done.
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