On Monday night former Arizona big man Lauri Markkanen made some NBA history. Becoming the fastest player in NBA history with 100 three-pointers.
Lauri Markkanen has been a revelation for the Chicago Bulls halfway through the season. Back on draft night in 2017, the Bulls and Wolves pulled off a blockbuster trade. Jimmy Butler was sent to the Wolves, while Kris Dunn, Zach Lavine and the seventh pick in the draft went to Chicago. With that pick, the Bulls chose the seven-foot big man out of Arizona University, via Finland.
When they chose Markkanen that night, many fans were saying that Chicago had made a gigantic mistake in draft Lauri. After all, the team already had Bobby Portis and Nikola Mirotic as their starting forwards.
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However before the season began those two would get into a practice brawl, knocking Mirotic out of commission for several weeks and Portis landing a suspension.
It was at this time that Lauri became the starting Power Forward for the Bulls. Not only was he now the starter, he was now the star. After a few games in the red jersey’s of Chicago, fans were trying to get their hands on their very own Markkanen jersey. He became the next great Chicago Bull seemingly overnight, all because of a fight between teammates.
Through the halfway mark of the season, Markkanen has continuously set record after record when it comes to rookie’s making three-pointers. However, the record he set on Monday during the Bulls win over the Hear is probably the biggest of his young career to this point, not even halfway through his first season.
Lauri Markkanen hit 100 3-pt FG faster than anyone in NBA history. How does he stack up against other notable players? pic.twitter.com/vUyb7zsHmN
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 15, 2018
That’s right. Lauri Markkanen is now the fastest player in NBA history to make 100 total threes, completing the mark in 17 fewer games than noted marksmen Steph Curry. The NBA record for most threes by a rookie in NBA history is 185 by Damian Lillard of the Portland Trailblazers, set just a few seasons ago.
Check out a video of all 100 threes below:
So far in his rookie year, Markkanen is averaging a stellar 15.5 points per game, along with 7.5 rebounds while shooting 42.9% from the field and 37.3% from 3. If it were not for the amazing rookie class that the 2017 Draft has provided the NBA, he could have been the front-runner for Rookie of the Year award.
Next: Leader emerging in star guard Rawle Alkins
If Lauri Markkanen continues at the pace he has through the first 41 games of his rookie season, there is a great chance he breaks the NBA record. We at ZonaZealots will continue to root for Markkanen no matter where his career takes him. BEAR DOWN.