The first week of Bulls training camp has been a surprisingly quiet one for Lauri Markkanen.
No setbacks on the injury front, no talk of when and where he will play some center, just business as usual for the third-year 7-footer.
Call that a great week, especially as far as Markkanen was concerned.
In his rookie camp back in 2017, there was the infamous punch heard around the Advocate Center, as Bobby Portis KO’d Nikola Mirotic in a practice altercation, casting Markkanen into a starting role the Bulls didn’t think he was ready for.
Then last September, Markkanen suffered a severe elbow injury that sidelined him until December, as well as all but sealing the fate on Fred Hoiberg’s coaching tenure.
Through the first five days in this camp?
A bulked-up Markkanen simply trying to chase greatness.
“I want him to improve defensively,’’ coach Jim Boylen said, when asked what the goals were for Markkanen in his third year with the organization. “And I want him to be a more consistent rebounder. When he rebounded at the defensive end of the floor and brought it, especially in that month of February, we were really good. We were hard to guard. And it got him going. So what we talk to him about is ‘Rebound the ball. It energizes you. It puts the ball in your hands. And we’re better.’ So I want to see him be more consistent with that.
“But he’s got to improve defensively. The four position in our league is basically a wing now, and you’ve got to be able to guard. I challenge him with it every day. Every day he walks out of that training room I challenge him, ‘Who you going to guard today?’ And I’m confident he will. I know he’ll work at it.’’
A challenge that Markkanen has not been taking lightly.
Sure, it’s obvious the versatile forward can score and rebound, and do it at an elite level. His 11-game “unicorn’’ showcase last February was a fantasy basketball owner’s dream, as Markkanen averaged 26 points and 12.2 rebounds per game, while shooting just under 49 percent from the field and 34.8 percent from three-point range.
There’s levels to joining the NBA elite, however, and now it’s time for Markkanen to take that step.
“My goal is to play all 82 games and be available every night,’’ Markkanen said. “So that’s a big goal for me. I’m trying to become a two-way player, work on my defense because I think that’s the key to success – have multiple guys who do it on both ends.’’
It’s one thing to say he wants to be a better defender. It’s a whole other obstacle in figuring out how to become a better defender.
That’s the process Markkanen is in right now. Sure, footwork, physicality and understanding the opponent are each essential in improving on the defensive end, but it starts with a willingness to put in the work on the defensive end. Check that box for Markkanen as well.
“I’ve played a whole lot of one-on-one,’’ Markkanen said of how he plans to improve on the defensive side of the ball. “First of all, being physical in the post. And I watched a lot of film on my footwork and tried to improve on that. I think it’s a mindset too, that you want to stop the people who are playing offense. It’s a mental thing, but I watched a lot of film to work on it and tried to get better on the block as well.’’
All done fairly quietly.
A nice change of pace for a Markkanen training camp.
