Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen To Participate In Three-Point Contest
Feb 14, 2023, 9:52 AM | Updated: 2:38 pm
SALT LAKE CITY – Lauri Markkanen was recently named an All-Star starter. Now, he will get in on the Saturday festivities by shooting in the three-point contest.
Markannen leads the Jazz in 3PT% and is just behind Jordan Clarkson in 3PT attempts at 7.4.
Sources: NBA 3-Point Contest participants at All-Star Weekend: Boston’s Jayson Tatum, Sacramento’s Kevin Huerter, Miami’s Tyler Herro, Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield, Portland’s Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons and Utah’s Lauri Markkanen.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 14, 2023
Markkanen’s 41.3% from deep is good for 19th in the association. However, only two people above Markkanen have more attempts. Al Horford is the only big man with a better percentage than Markkanen.
If games played were not a factor, Markkanen would have the 2nd-highest 3PT% in Utah Jazz history, only trailing Jeff Hornacek. Hornacek is the only Jazz player to ever win the three-point contest.
#TBT…current @Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek won the 1998 Three-Point Contest trophy at #NBAAllStarNYC. pic.twitter.com/42dAd7bADi
— #NBAAllStar (@NBAAllStar) February 5, 2015
Markkanen is on an impressive shooting tear this season. After making 2 three’s against Indiana last night, Markkanen has hit a three in 45-straight games.
All-Star Starter Lauri Markkanen Now In Three-Point Contest
Lauri Markkanen will represent the Utah Jazz in the three-point contest and in the all-star game at home.
Markkanen was selected by the 30 NBA coaches as one of seven reserves out of the Western Conference.
“I’m extremely happy to represent the Jazz here,” Markkanen said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Markkanen is only the second player from Finland to reach the NBA, joining former University of Utah star Hanno Möttölä. He is the first to earn an All-Star nod.
“We grew up watching the All-Star game, too, even though it’s not the normal basketball game,” Markkanen said. “That was fun to see a lot of dunks and stuff like that it was a cool thing to watch — so I’m extremely happy to be part of it.”
Jazz Swapped One All-Star For Another
The Jazz acquired Markkanen along with guard Collin Sexton, and significant draft compensation in exchange for Donovan Mitchell in September.
The former seventh overall pick out of Arizona, Markkanen began his career with the Chicago Bulls before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the summer of 2021.
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After trading Mitchell and Rudy Gobert during the offseason, the Jazz were expected to enter a long rebuild process. However, Markkanen’s rapid progression along with the hiring of head coach Will Hardy has greatly accelerated the Jazz timeline.
“Lauri’s done such a good job of continuing to work on different ways that can impact the game offensively,” Hardy said of Markkanen’s growth. “He’s shown the ability to shoot the ball but I think the physicality that he’s played with driving the ball, and the physicality that he’s played with as a screener that has given him an opportunity to score in a variety of ways.”
Markkanen’s selection marks four consecutive seasons that the Jazz have had an All-Star, and the eighth All-Star nod over the last four years.
Related: Travis Scott To Help Finalize Jazz All-Star Plans
Both Mitchell and Gobert were named to the previous three All-Star teams as members of the Jazz, while Mike Conley was chosen as a reserve in 2021.
The All-Star game will be held at Vivint Arena on February 19. Jazz rookie Walker Kessler was also selected to represent the team in the Rising Stars Challenge.
Chandler Holt is a Digital Sports Producer for KSLSports.com, specializing in all things basketball and football. Follow Chandler on Twitter at @ChandlerHoltKSL.
