Despite $10,000,000 Net Worth at Just Age 25, Lauri Markkanen Reminded He Needs to Be “Up in a Couple of Hours” to Serve the Military by Shaquille O’Neal

Published 04/27/2023, 12:10 PM EDT

Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player of the Year for the 2022–23 season. The Most Improved Player award is traditionally given to the player who has improved the most since the previous season. Markkanen defeated contenders Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the first George Mikan trophy this season. With 25.6 points per game, he was the Jazz’s top scorer this season, and his effort played a significant role in their victory.

Meanwhile, Lauri Markkanen joined a recent episode of ‘Inside The NBA’ where Shaquille O’Neal gave him a stark reminder about serving in the military.

Lauri Markkanen gets a reminder from Shaquille O’Neal

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Lauri Markkanen joined the latest episode of ‘Inside the NBA’ following his latest achievement. He was asked about his six-month commitment to serve in the Finnish Army before the age of thirty. He was also asked about how he felt when his locks hit the floor as he got this haircut. The athlete had a playful response in store, and he took a jab at the crew of ‘Inside The NBA’ in his response.

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He replied, “Yeah I’ve had that haircut uh before I couldn’t go as short as you guys but I had to it’s kind of pretty short.” He then went on to describe a typical day in his life in the Army.“Days are pretty long. We wake up early and uh go for probably 10-12 hours straight. But it’s been fun. Just knowing that getting to know a lot of new guys and making some new friends and you have to go through it together. So, it’s actually been pretty good.”

The crew congratulated him once again for his achievement. Ernie Johnson then thanked him for appearing on the show and Chuck chimed in, asking the athlete to get some rest. Shaquille O’Neal then added, “Gotta be up in a couple of hours.” He continued, “Move it, move it, move it, move it!”

The Most Improved Player

Lauri Markkanen’s winning the NBA’s Most Improved Player is evidence of his perseverance. Owing to this, the athlete also has an astonishing net worth of $10,000,000 despite being only 25. He played for the Chicago Bulls for four seasons and the Cleveland Cavaliers for one season. It was after his trade to the Utah Jazz that he played his best.

He led his team in scoring this season with 25.6 points per game. His performance was a crucial factor in their triumph. Even after dealing away some of their star players, the Utah Jazz were able to compete at a high level owing to his rise to fame as a top scorer.

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Lauri Markkanen will receive the George Mikan trophy this season. He will be the first recipient of the trophy in the history of the league. With his well-deserved victory, Markkanen joins a limited list of excellent players who have previously received the honor. This list includes Kevin Love, Paul George and Giannis Antetokounmpo. Markkanen’s continued diligence and commitment will undoubtedly have an effect on the court for years to come.

What are your thoughts on the Most Improved Player this season? Let us know in the comments below!

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Written by:

Ranjitha Ramesh is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. With a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Ranjitha has a strong foundation in reporting and writing. Her passion for basketball, particularly the Lakers and LeBron James, fuels her desire to delve into the lifestyle and off-court activities of NBA stars.

Edited by:

Aayush Kapoor

Despite $10,000,000 Net Worth at Just Age 25, Lauri Markkanen Reminded He Needs to Be “Up in a Couple of Hours” to Serve the Military by Shaquille O’Neal

Lauri Markkanen gets a reminder from Shaquille O’Neal

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The Most Improved Player