Hoops Habit
Fansided

2017-18 NBA Rookie of the Year ladder: Week 8 power rankings

By Jerran Anderson

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 11
Next
Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Brock Williams-Smith/NBAE via Getty Images /

5. Lauri Markkanen, Chicago Bulls

Last rank: No. 5 (↔)

The Chicago Bulls are only 4-20 this season but their bright spot has been rookie Lauri Markkanen. Markkanen has been the one consistent piece for Chicago, at least on offense, as the Bulls continue to struggle through the 2017-18 season.

The Finland native is averaging 14.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game so far. He’s coming off a 24-point, 12-rebound performance that gave Chicago its fourth victory of the season over the Charlotte Hornets. The Bulls pulled out a 118-111 victory in overtime behind Markkanen’s game-high performance. It was the seventh double-double of his young career as well.

The Chicago Bulls are still a team missing a few pieces in their arsenal, as evidenced by their record, but Markkanen is their silver lining. If they can find a star or two to put alongside Markkanen, he could turn into a franchise player for them soon.