As the Jazz star continues to stake an All-Star claim, we take a look at Lauri Markkanen’s wife Verna Aho, his parents, and children.
Meet Lauri Markkanen’s wife and family as he rises to All-Star status with the Jazz
The Utah Jazz have been a pleasant surprise this season, and their 21-20 record keeps them in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Few expected the Jazz to make the playoffs after trading away Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert this offseason. Lauri Markkanen, acquired as part of the Mitchell trade, has played a significant role in the Jazz’s success.
He recently set a new career high with 49 points on 15/27 shooting against the Houston Rockets. He now has ten 30-point games this season and has scored at least 28 points in each of his last six games.
The Finnish sensation is averaging 23.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 52.9% from the field. He is a candidate for the Most Improved Player award and could make his first All-Star appearance.
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He comes from a basketball and athletic family. The 25-year-old forward was born in Vantaa, Finland, and grew up as part of a basketball family in Jyväskylä. Lauri’s parents, Pekka and Riika Markkanen (nee Ellonen), were both basketball players, and his father played for the Jayhawks at the University of Kansas.
The elder Markkanen earned 129 caps for Finland and was named Finnish Basketball Player of the Year three times (1989, 1993 and 1996).
Lauri’s brothers, Miika and Eero, are also athletes. Miika played basketball, whereas Eero is a soccer striker for HIFK in Finland.
In 2020, he sent her a birthday greeting with the caption, “Happy Birthday to my beautiful wife!! Thank you for being my best friend and the best Mom our son could ask for! See you soon.”
In February 2018, Markkanen and his wife welcomed their first child, Alvar. Lauri announced the birth of his second child on Instagram in 2020:
He has posted several photos with his family over the years, including the ones shown here:
Lauri appears to be triumphant both on and off the court.
