Lauri Markkanen looked like a star of the future for the Chicago Bulls during EuroBasket 2017 when he represented his country of Finland. Here’s five goals for him to achieve during his first full season in the NBA.
Despite prospects like Dennis Smith, Jr. still on the board for the Chicago Bulls after they traded Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves back in June, the Bulls took their chances and took Arizona freshman Lauri Markkanen with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
The Bulls not only didn’t invite Markkanen in for a private pre-draft workout, they hardly spoke to Markkanen before making them a piece of their future core in Chicago. Questions began flying in like O’Hare International Airport and many were wondering what the Bulls were doing, especially with the Nikola Mirotic contract situation (that’s still somehow going in later September).
However, the curiosity of Bulls fans about Markkanen began during Markkanen’s run with Finland in EuroBasket 2017. Despite the early exit in the knockout stage after going 4-1 in the group stage, the 20-year-old seven-footer was the Finnish’s best player throughout the tournament.
Now, it’s time for him to become a centerpiece of the Bulls’ future as they begin a rebuild that could make or break the status of the current regime in place as we know it today.
As Markkanen enters his first NBA season, let’s take a look at some goals that he could look to achieve in his rookie year.