Utah’s star forward is torching defenses and rewriting expectations just four games into the year.
Lauri Markkanen has opened the 2025–26 season on an absolute tear, averaging 34.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists through the first four games. He’s shooting 50.6 percent from the field, 40 percent from three, and logging nearly 40 minutes a night. The Jazz may still be in rebuild mode, but their best player is playing like he never got the memo.
The defining moment of his early rampage came on October 27, when Markkanen dropped 51 points in a 138–134 overtime win over Phoenix. It was the kind of performance that puts the league on alert — 45 minutes, 14 rebounds, three assists, and a barrage of backbreaking jumpers that left defenders helpless. It was also historic: the first 50-point game by a Jazz player in a regular season since Karl Malone in 1998.
This isn’t a blip. Markkanen has now posted 30-plus in three straight games, including 33 points on the road in Sacramento and 32 in a tight loss to Portland. He’s not just hitting shots — he’s dictating games. He’s drawing fouls, finishing through contact, and pulling bigs out to the perimeter where they can’t keep up. He’s efficient, physical, and locked in.
Most importantly, he looks healthy. That wasn’t always the case last season, when he appeared in only 47 games and struggled to find rhythm or consistency. Now, he’s averaging career highs across the board and doing it with confidence and command. He’s in full control of the Jazz offense, and they’re giving him the green light every trip down.
His usage is sky-high, but his efficiency hasn’t dipped. His footwork on the perimeter is tighter, his handle is cleaner, and he’s reading defenses faster. He’s punishing switches and torching doubles. That’s a bad sign for opponents — and a great one for a Utah team still searching for identity.
It’s not just volume either. He’s averaging four made threes per game on 40 percent shooting, showing that his jumper is not only back — it’s sharper. Add in the fact that he’s getting to the free throw line with regularity and hitting 91.4 percent, and it’s clear: Markkanen is in the zone.
Still, the question lingers: can he keep this up?
He’s averaging over 38 minutes per game — a heavy load for any player, especially one with a history of injuries. The Jazz will need to manage that carefully. But for now, Markkanen is thriving. He’s producing at an elite level and doing it with a sense of purpose that was missing last season.
This version of Lauri Markkanen isn’t chasing a comeback. He’s commanding respect. He’s demanding defensive attention. And more than anything, he’s proving that his 2023 All-Star season wasn’t a peak — it was just the start.
Four games in, it’s obvious: the Finnish sniper is back. And this time, he’s aiming higher than ever.
