Utah Jazz Forward Lauri Markkanen Named 2022-23 Kia NBA Most Improved Player In Breakout Season

Photo: Instagram/Lauri Markkanen

Lauri Markkanen, the forward for the Utah Jazz, has been awarded the 2022-23 Kia NBA Most Improved Player after an outstanding season that saw him make his first All-Star appearance.

The announcement was made at 2 a.m. in Helsinki, where Markkanen is currently serving in the Finnish military.

He beat out fellow finalists Jalen Brunson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to win the award, receiving 69 of the 100 first-place votes and appearing on every ballot.

Photo: Instagram/Lauri Markkanen's improvement this season has been nothing short of remarkable, and he has risen to the challenge with every game.

During his first season with the Jazz, Markkanen's personal production and efficiency increased in all areas, logging career highs in scoring, rebounding, assists, and free throw attempts. He shot 49.9% overall, 39.1% from 3-point range, and 87.5% from the free-throw line.

Markkanen also became the first player in NBA history to convert over 200 3-pointers and 100 dunks in a single season.

Markkanen, who was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017 and traded on Draft night, led the Jazz to a 10-3 start and helped them remain in the playoff mix until injuries led them to finish 12th in the Western Conference.

He is the first player in Jazz franchise history to receive the Most Improved Player award.

Markkanen's rise to stardom has been sudden but spectacular. After serving as a solid starter for Chicago and Cleveland in his first five NBA seasons, he has given Utah an immediately bright future as the biggest piece in the return for multi-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell, whom Utah dealt to the Cavaliers.

Markkanen, who is only 25 years old, joins the ranks of international players who have won the Most Improved Player award, including Giannis Antetokounmpo, Pascal Siakam, Goran Dragic, Boris Diaw, Hedo Turkoglu, and Gheorghe Muresan.

His breakout season, which earned him the Kia NBA Most Improved Player award, has also earned him a spot in the history books of the NBA.

Read Next: Hawks Guard Dejounte Murray Suspended For One Game For Contact With Official

Source: NBA

Comments

Post a Comment

Trending Now

Mike Tyson Explains Viral Jake Paul Slap: 'He Stepped On My Foot'

Image
Photo: Mike Tyson, Jake Paul / Instagram   Jake Paul got a sharp reminder Thursday night: don’t mess with Mike Tyson . The two fighters met at the weigh-in for their big showdown at AT&T Stadium on Friday. Things heated up when Tyson, 58, slapped Paul on stage, sparking a frenzy online. Fans wondered what caused the boxing legend to lose his cool. Tyson later explained it was because Paul stepped on his foot — and he wasn’t happy about it. Photo: Mike Tyson / Instagram   "I was in my socks, and he had shoes on," Tyson told the New York Post . "He stepped on my toe. At first, I thought it was an accident, but now I think it might have been on purpose." Video of the moment supports Tyson’s claim. "It hurt a lot," he added. "I had to hit back." Mike Tyson Slaps Jake Paul During Their Final Face Off, Before Their Fight This Friday.😭 pic.twitter.com/Hkfch5lo7o — Poetik Flakko (@FlakkoPoetik) November 15, 2024 This fight marks Tyson’s retu
Read More

Katie Taylor Suspended After Controversial Win Over Amanda Serrano

Image
Photo: Katie Taylor / Instagram   Katie Taylor will be suspended for at least 30 days after her controversial victory over Amanda Serrano on Friday night. The fight took place at the AT&T Stadium in Texas, where Taylor defended her light-welterweight titles. The bout went the full 10 rounds, with Taylor winning by unanimous decision. The judges scored it 95-94 in her favor, but the match wasn’t without controversy. Serrano suffered a bad cut from a head clash earlier in the fight, and Taylor was later penalized for a headbutt in the eighth round. After the fight, Serrano expressed her frustration. “I knew when it went to the judges it would be shady,” she said. “She kept headbutting me, but it’s not new. She did the same with Chantelle Cameron.” Photo: Katie Taylor / Instagram   Taylor denied any foul play, saying, “The headbutt was accidental. This is a tough sport, and things like that happen. I’m not a dirty fighter.” Both fighters will be suspended for a mandatory rest perio
Read More

Steph Curry Wants Caitlin Clark, Klay Thompson In All-Star Three-Point Contest

Image
Photo: Stephen Curry, Caitlin Clark / Instagram   The popular “NBA vs. WNBA” three-point shootout could be back with some exciting new faces at the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry and New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu are planning to bring their hit three-point contest to the All-Star Weekend in February. This time, they hope to include Dallas Mavericks guard Klay Thompson and Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark . "Sources tell me Curry and Ionescu are discussing a return of the shootout," Charania said. "There are plans to include Klay Thompson and Caitlin Clark in the competition this year." Photo: Stephen Curry / Instagram   Adding Thompson and Clark would make the event even bigger. Thompson, now with the Mavericks , is a legendary shooter and was once Curry’s teammate on the Warriors. Clark, the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year, made history by hitting 122 three-pointers in her first season—th
Read More

Dwight Howard Wants To Join Thunder After Chet Holmgren’s Injury

Image
Photo: Dwight Howard / Instagram   Dwight Howard is ready for an NBA comeback. After being eliminated from Dancing With the Stars  just two days ago, the 38-year-old made a pitch to join the Oklahoma City Thunder. Howard, who last played in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2021-22 season, has been playing in Taiwan’s T1 League . Now, he says he’s ready to return and help the Thunder while star center Chet Holmgren recovers from a hip injury. Holmgren is expected to miss 8-10 weeks. “OKC, ya boy is ready,” Howard said on KG Certified . “Y’all need a big. Y’all need a vet. I’ve got energy and nothing else to do after dancing. … I’d go to OKC right now. Two-year [deal], let me finish out. We get y’all a championship, maybe another one.” Photo: Dwight Howard / Instagram   Howard also reminded fans that he won an NBA title with Alex Caruso in 2020, who now plays for the Thunder. Oklahoma City is seen as a strong contender this season, and Howard believes he could help the
Read More

Jon Jones Walks Out of UFC 309 Interview Over Tom Aspinall Questions

Image
Photo: Jon Jones / Instagram   UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones recently walked out of a pre-fight interview, refusing to answer questions about rising star Tom Aspinall . Jones, who is set to defend his title against Stipe Miocic in the main event at UFC 309 this Saturday at Madison Square Garden, left the interview after sensing it would be “an Aspinall fest.” Jones hasn’t fought since March when he returned to the octagon after a three-year break, defeating Ciryl Gane to claim the heavyweight belt. His upcoming opponent, 42-year-old Miocic, last fought in March 2021, where he was knocked out by Francis Ngannou . The interview, hosted by TNT Sports’ Adam Catterall, got off to an awkward start. As Jones sat down, he quickly changed his mind, telling Catterall, “I’m not going to do this interview... I’m not going to do it.” Later, Jones explained his decision, saying, “Common sense tells me what type of questions I’m going to get asked.” Photo: Jon Jones / Instagram   Jones eventu
Read More

Caitlin Clark Could Be The Next NBA 2K Cover Athlete, Angel Reese Also In The Running

Image
Photo: Caitlin Clark / Instagram   Caitlin Clark is at the top of the list to be the next NBA 2K cover athlete, according to Ronnie Singh, the director of digital marketing for NBA 2K. Singh believes Clark, after her impressive rookie season, is a star who will be in the spotlight for many years to come. "I think she’s a young star that’s going to be here for a long time," Singh told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. Since 2021, NBA 2K has featured WNBA athletes on some of its covers. Candace Parker, Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Sabrina Ionescu , and A'ja Wilson have all graced the cover in recent years. Wilson’s cover came out in September, and now, after Clark’s standout rookie year, she’s a favorite to be next. Singh explained that cover athletes are chosen based on their authenticity, their rise in the sport, and the story they represent. Clark checks all those boxes. "She’s at the top of the list and probably will be for years to come," Singh said. Photo
Read More

Ryan Garcia Plans Return To Boxing In December, Eyes Fight With Jake Paul

Image
Photo: Ryan Garcia / Instagram   Boxing star Ryan Garcia is set to return to the ring on December 30 for an exhibition fight in Japan. This will be his first match since being suspended for a year after testing positive for a banned substance earlier this year. Garcia, known as "King Ry," will face former kickboxing champion Rukiya Anpo. The fight will be broadcast as a pay-per-view event on Fanmio for $49.99. “I’m excited to knock Anpo out,” Garcia said. “He tried to take down a legend like Manny Pacquiao , and I’m going to teach him some respect.” Photo: Ryan Garcia / Instagram   Anpo recently fought  Pacquiao  to a draw in an exhibition match, but Garcia claims he’ll finish the job in just three rounds. Even before stepping into the ring with Anpo, Garcia has his sights set on Jake Paul. Paul, who recently won a controversial decision against boxing legend Mike Tyson , is one of the biggest names in crossover boxing. “I’ve been quiet, but here’s the plan,” Garcia sh
Read More

Ye Faces Lawsuit Over Alleged Copyright Theft In 'Vultures 1'

Image
Photo: Ye / Instagram   Rapper Ye (formerly Kanye West) is being sued by a group of Memphis rappers who claim he and Ty Dolla $ign illegally used a sample in their song “Fuk Sumn” without permission. The lawsuit accuses the two of “brazen” copyright infringement, saying they took parts of a 1994 track called "Drink a Yak (Part 2)” by Criminal Manne, DJ Squeeky, and the late Kilo G. The lawsuit says that Ye’s team tried to get permission to use the sample but kept using it even after talks broke down. The rappers claim they contacted Ye’s team many times, but nothing was resolved, forcing them to take legal action. The plaintiffs say that the use of the sample in “Fuk” is obvious, with lines from the original track clearly heard in Ye’s song. One part includes a lyric from Criminal Manne, and another features a line by Kilo G. Photo: Ye / Instagram   This lawsuit is just the latest in a series of similar cases against Ye for using samples without proper licenses. Since 2019, Ye ha
Read More

Spurs Coach Popovich Recovering After 'Mild Stroke'

Image
Photo: Gregg Popovich / Instagram   San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had a "mild stroke" earlier this month, the team shared on Wednesday. The 75-year-old is expected to make a full recovery. Popovich has missed the last six Spurs games due to what was initially called a "health issue." The team clarified that he had suffered the stroke on November 2, just before a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson has taken over as interim head coach while Popovich is away. The Spurs have not announced when he might return to coaching. Photo: Gregg Popovich / Instagram   Popovich is a legendary figure in the NBA. He’s the league’s oldest coach and holds the record for the most wins, with 1,390 regular-season victories and 170 playoff wins.  Over his 29 years with the Spurs, he’s led them to five NBA championships. Source Continue reading: Angel Reese Hints at Super-Team With Rival Caitlin Clark
Read More

Prosecutors Say Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Is Trying To Influence Witnesses And The Jury While In Jail

Image
Photo: Sean 'Diddy' Combs / Instagram   Prosecutors allege that Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been breaking federal detention rules to influence witnesses and the jury pool in his ongoing sex trafficking case. According to a new court filing, Combs used other inmates' phone accounts to avoid monitoring and paid them through intermediaries, which is against jail rules. The music mogul, who is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, is accused of making three-way calls to unapproved contacts and sending hundreds of unauthorized text messages. Prosecutors claim he is attempting to silence accusers and sway testimony in his favor. Combs, who has pleaded not guilty, faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and related crimes. Prosecutors also accuse him of using social media to influence public opinion, including directing family members to post videos to gain sympathy and manipulate potential jurors. Photo: Sean 'Diddy' Combs /
Read More