Lauri Markkanen Reveals Motive for Returning to Jazz Lineup This season, the Utah Jazz forward can return to the court to finish the season.
The Utah Jazz’s injury report changed significantly ahead of Monday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with Lauri Markkanen’s status upgraded from out to questionable. The forward has been suffering with a quadriceps issue that has kept him out of play for an extended length of time, but he could return to the lineup in the last month of the NBA season.
Markkanen addressed to the media ahead of the Jazz’s second game against the Timberwolves, saying it’s vital for him to get back on the court to create chemistry with the young players and “set a standard” to finish the year:
Lauri has been out with a quad injury since March 4th, missing the Jazz’s last six games (2-4). Markkanen hasn’t had much time to practice with the new roster on the court since the trade deadline because he got injured immediately. As he returns to action, the goal will be to further integrate him and play with young players such as Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, Brice Sensabaugh, and Walker Kessler to develop that essential synergy.
Despite the implications for Utah’s top-ten protected lottery pick in the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Markkanen’s availability appears to remain unchanged down the stretch. The Jazz presently have the odds of selecting ninth overall in this summer’s draft, so they must walk carefully over the next month if they want to keep their first-round pick this offseason.
Keep an eye on Markkanen’s status in the following days as his homecoming approaches.
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