Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton complimented Chicago Bulls power forward Lauri Markkanen prior to last night's matchup, which the Western Conference team won. When asked about the Finnish player, Walton name-dropped their alma mater, the University of Arizona, as the obvious reason why he’s been so good.
Later on, the Lakers coach said that Markkanen is a special player, complimenting the big man’s ability to stretch the floor. K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune shared Walton’s comments in his tweet.
Luke Walton on Lauri Markkanen: "Hey, he went to U of A (Arizona). He's great."
Then Walton got serious: "He’s a special player, especially in today’s game, being a big that can stretch the floor like that."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) January 26, 2018
Markkanen was the seventh overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was included in the trade along with Kris Dunn and Zach Levine to the Chicago Bulls for Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton.
The 7-foot Bulls forward averages 15.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. Markkanen has logged 10 double-doubles to date.
The 20-year-old Wildcat alum tallied his career-high 33 points on Jan. 11 in the Bulls' double-overtime win over the New York Knicks in nowhere else but Madison Square Garden. His impressive performance came with 10 rebounds, two steals, one assist, and one block.
Markkanen is just warming up. So far in January, the rookie is averaging his highest points of any month in his young career with 17.6 markers along with 8.1 rebounds per game.
It’s safe to say that Markkanen will be in the NBA’s All-Rookie team by the end of the season. As for the Rookie of the Year award itself? He has some work to do, but he has a chance.
And a chance is all that Markkanen needs.
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