Utah Jazz Forward Lauri Markkanen Welcomes New Baby On Social Media
Nov 29, 2024, 7:14 PM
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Jazz All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen missed Wednesday night’s loss against the Denver Nuggets for ‘Personal Reasons.’ After banging knees multiple times during Utah’s loss to San Antonio, some fans found the reasoning peculiar.
Two days later, Markkanen took to social media to announce the birth of his recently born baby. The timing certainly explains the Finland native’s absence earlier in the week.
RELATED: Injury-Plagued Utah Jazz Out-Talented In Loss To Nuggets
View this post on Instagram
Despite being the primary weapon on what many feel is a team destined to tank the 2024-25 season, Markkanen continues to show his value after signing a five-year max contract extension with the franchise in August.
The 7’0 forward averages 19.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists on 46.7 percent shooting and 41.6 percent from deep while playing 14 of 18 possible games this season.
Markkanen has enjoyed a career renaissance since being traded to Utah ahead of the 2022-23 season. The former Arizona Wildcat has averaged 24 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks, all career-highs, in 135 games in a Jazz uniform.
The former first-round pick has a career average of 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds on 45.9 percent shooting from the floor.
RELATED STORIES
Follow the Utah Jazz with KSL Sports
Utah welcomes the Dallas Mavericks into Delta Center on Saturday, November 30. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m. MT. The game will be televised on KJZZ, streamed on Jazz+, and heard on 97.5 The KSL Sports Zone.
Find KSLSports.com coverage of the Utah Jazz here.
Are you on Threads yet? Let’s connect; give us a follow @kslsports.
Take us with you wherever you go.
Brian Preece is a KSLsports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball coverage here.
