BREAKING Lauri Markkanen wins NBA Most Improved Player Award; first ever for Utah Jazz player
SALT LAKE CITY — Following his first season in Utah, forward Lauri Markkanen did something no other Jazz player has ever accomplished by winning the NBA's Most Improved Player Award on Monday.
Acquired in the off-season trade that sent Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland, Markkanen set a career high this season with 25.6 points per game while being named to his first-ever NBA All-Star team. Markkanen's play helped Utah to a better-than-expected record during the 2022-23 season. Last month, as the Jazz were still in the running for a playoff spot, Markkanen said he wasn't concerned about individual awards.
"That's some extra motivation, but I'm not really thinking about it," Markkanen told ESPN."I talked about the responsibility, and I'm enjoying the challenge, and if those individual goals happen, if we keep winning games and I keep doing my thing. I go every single day to keep working, and I hope that happens, but we'll see.
Markannen was unable to accept his award in person as he is currently fulfilling mandatory military service requirements in his native Finland.
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