Lauri Markannen hasn’t experienced the full force of Draymond Green’s trash-talking. While some of his own peers have lived to tell the tale, Lauri Markkanen hasn’t yet felt the savagery yet.
The Utah Jazz star was part of the 3-Point Contest on Saturday and was interviewed by the NBA on TNT crew which also featured the Golden State Warriors veteran.
Kevin Harlen asked what it was to face Greens trash-talk to which Markkanen had a hilarious response
“He’d be trying to get offensive fouls on me, but he’s been pretty nice so hopefully he keeps it that way.”
This had Harlen and Reggie Miller in splits and even Green had a huge smile on his face while adding that he didn’t “mess with him much”. Markkanen is primed to make his All-Star debut on Sunday, and this season has seen him establish himself as one of the scintillating big men in the league.
Lauri Markkanen Makes Pau Gasol’s List Of Five European Stars Who Can Beat Team USA
Pau Gasol has been one of the best European stars to play in the NBA and he was one of the players whose perfect and electric chemistry with Kobe Bryant saw the Lakers land two consecutive titles in 2009 and 2010.
The Spaniard was also one of the must-watch stars during the Olympics and after having gone toe-to-toe with the best players from the league who made Team USA, he picked his own five players and Markkanen was one of them.
“I think there are those three guys that are at the top level internationally, which are Luka (Doncic), Giannis (Antetokounmpo), and Nikola (Jokic). These three guys would undoubtedly be on my team. Now the other two guys have to compliment those three amazing players. I would love to include a Spanish guy in that mix.
“You have to have some glue guys. Guys that don’t need the ball as much as these three guys probably do. To me, the guy who comes to my mind is Rudy Fernandez. guy has proven so much and has been such a key contributor to our team doing little things… I think he’s proven and earned that type of recognition. I would get Rudy there.
“The fifth guy… Right now, I’m between probably two players. Maybe (Bojan) Bogdanovic, who’s playing really well at this point… I’m between him and Markkanen, which is also another great player who’s going to be an All-Star this year for the first time. It’s a tough call between those two… But let’s go with Lauri Markkanen.” (h/t BasketNews)
Markkanen has been in the league for five years and has played for the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers before suiting up for Utah.
This season sees him average 24.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists making it a no-brainer that he was selected as one of the players to make an All-Star appearance. Only time will tell if he will be a regular fixture over the next few years.
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