{"id":263280,"date":"2023-03-08T10:14:56","date_gmt":"2023-03-08T16:14:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/?p=263280"},"modified":"2023-03-08T12:29:08","modified_gmt":"2023-03-08T18:29:08","slug":"lauri-markkanen-jalen-brunson-odds-most-improved-player","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.casino.org\/news\/lauri-markkanen-jalen-brunson-odds-most-improved-player\/","title":{"rendered":"NBA Most Improved Player: Lauri Markkanen, Jalen Brunson in Close Race"},"content":{"rendered":"

Forward Lauri Markkanen from the Utah Jazz is the consensus favorite to win the 2023 NBA Most Improved Player at -285 odds. As an NBA all-star, Markkanen emerged as a solid betting favorite over New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson (+320) and Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+400).<\/p>\n

\"Lauri
Forward Lauri Markkanen from the Utah Jazz celebrates a 3-point shot during an overtime thriller against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. (Image: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In other professional sports leagues like the NFL or NHL, the Most Improved Player award typically goes to a player who returned from a major injury and bounced back with a sensational season. Occasionally, that’s the case in the NBA. But the Most Improved Player typically gets awarded to a younger player who had a breakthrough season.<\/p>\n

The three betting favorites to win the 2023 Most Improved Player each have their own unique stories, with two of them playing with a new team this season.<\/p>\n

Lauri Markkanen -285<\/h2>\n

Markkanen grew up in Finland and played his collegiate ball with Arizona. After an impressive freshman season, Markkanen decided to go pro. Scouts loved the fact the seven-footer demonstrated deft guard skills and a deadly outside shot.<\/p>\n

The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Markkanen with the seventh-overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft. He was traded on draft night to the Chicago Bulls, along with Zach LaVine, in exchange for Jimmy Butler.<\/p>\n

Markkanen started 68 games as a rookie with the Bulls and earned a spot on the NBA All-Rookie first team. In four seasons with the Bulls, he averaged 15.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.<\/p>\n

The Bulls traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers prior to the 2021-22 season. He lasted only one year in Cleveland before the Cavs traded him last summer to the Utah Jazz. Markkanen was part of a lucrative trade package that brought Donovan Mitchell to the Cavs.<\/p>\n

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Many pundits assumed the Jazz would trade Markkanen as soon as they had a chance, and that he wouldn’t last a full season in Salt Lake City. He was a good shooter, but struggled to stay healthy and missed 108 total games during his first five years in the league.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

However, after a breakout season, including NBA All-Star honors,<\/a> the Jazz would be foolish to part ways with Markkanen. He’s posting career numbers in all major statistical categories by averaging 25.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. He’s shooting 51.3% from the floor and 40.9% from 3-point range.<\/p>\n

Markkanen averaged 14.8 points per game last season with the Cavs and made a noticeable scoring increase of 9.5 ppg this season with the Jazz. His nearly double-digit jump in scoring is the most obvious reason why he’s the betting favorite at-285 odds to win Most Improved Player.<\/p>\n

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