Chicago Bulls: Lauri Markkanen vs. Kristaps Porzingis side-by-side comparison
Lauri Markkanen was scoffed at by many after being drafted seventh overall by the Chicago Bulls, but now he is proving to have a tantalizing upside, earning praise and legitimate star player comparisons.
Most fans exclusively reserve their player comparisons for Kristaps Porzingis to the great Dirk Nowitzki, but after the Chicago Bulls‘ thrilling double overtime victory last week, and the subsequent strong play of Lauri Markkanen, the Finnish power forward’s strong play has become undeniable, and the comparison between he and the New York Knicks‘ prized centerpiece too clear to not talk about.
Yes, we all know what the naysayers are thinking just from reading the title of this article, but when you look at the comparisons of the rookie year statistics, the truth is that the Chicago Bulls might have a more special player in Lauri Markkanen than most realize.
So what has the Finnisher done to earn this comparison? Well, for one, he has outplayed his draft position. But that aside, he has done something much more important: proven that he won’t be psyched out of playing at a high level. That not only unlocks his ability to play with the big boys and keep anyone honest, but it unlocks his ability to realize his potential and even play beyond it.
Most rookie problems come from a player’s inability to do what earned them a draft position in this league because of comfort level. Factors like intimidation, confidence, and getting used to the pace of the NBA game and life on the road all have dethroned the highest of draft lottery player expectations.
But the Chicago Bulls’ coveted seventh overall player has not only proven to be capable, but has produced (so far) eerily similar statistics to his fellow foreign power forward Kristaps Porzingis’ rookie year:
- Porzingis’ rookie year: 14.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 1.9 BPG, 1.3 APG, 42.1 FG%, 33.3 3P%
- Markkanen’s rookie year: 15.5 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 0.6 BPG, 1.3 APG, 42.9 FG%, 37.3 3P%
It’s true! Both power forwards had rookie year numbers of about 15 points, seven boards and a dime per game. Where Lauri Markkanen fares less favorably is in blocks, averaging 0.6 per game compared to the Zinger’s two per game.
He has made the Unicorn’s rookie average of one 3-pointer per game look like child’s play, averaging a gaudy 2.5 3-balls per game so far this season. The 3-pointer is king in this league, and a seven-footer with a nearly unguardable sweet stroke is gold in the association.
Part of what makes this all the more exciting is his smart play with the ball in his hands. With a 22 percent usage rate this season, so far Lauri Markkanen has only coughed up the rock 1.3 times per tilt. Meanwhile, KP was committing 1.7 turnovers with a 25 percent usage rate. For a 20-year-old, this is seriously impressive.
Bottom line: If he can keep it up, we are looking at a player with as dangerous of an upside as Kristaps Porzingis on the offensive end, and sooner than later, the Dirk Nowitzki comparisons will come. He has shown an athleticism that basically no one thought would translate to the NBA, and despite a large workload, he has flashed something that can rarely be taught by this stage in his basketball IQ. When you put it all together, it’s pretty impressive for a seventh overall selection.
Next: 2017-18 Week 13 NBA Power Rankings
In a painful twist, as the Chicago Bulls polished off the New York Knicks in last week’s thriller, the painful fact remains: look back in history and you will find that the selection right before the New York Knicks’ in a staggering amount of NBA Drafts has turned out to be a massive success. For instance, in 2009 the New York Knicks took Jordan Hill. The pick right before? Stephen Curry. This would be just another textbook example of that… this time in the favor of the Chicago Bulls.