The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Draymond Green Show - Lauri Markkanen

Episode Date: March 16, 2023

Lauri Markkanen joins 'The Draymond Green Show' to discuss if the Utah Jazz expected to be this good, what it's like being in trades for All-Stars, when the NBA became a realistic goal for him, how European players vs. American players are judged, scoring in the NBA compared to Eurobasket, balancing being a family man, and more. Produced by: Jackson Safon #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the Draymond Green Show. I'm excited to have this next guest, an all-star, but the road wasn't quite pretty to an all-star game. You know, you're talking a guy who was, the seventh pick in the NBA draft, been traded a couple times. And a lot of guys started, or a lot of people, not guys, a lot of people started to count out, started to say he wasn't what they thought he were going to be coming out of college.

When he played one year at Arizona, was first team all-packed 12, was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves and traded to Chicago. So absolutely incredible player. Star the Utah Jazz. Laurie Marketing. For y'all that don't know how to pronounce his name,

I just got the tutorial. Mike Lowry, just like the bad boys, Laurie Marketing. What's up, my brother? Welcome to the show. Thanks, man. Happy to be here. Absolutely.

Man, we've been trying to do this episode. We had a schedule earlier this week, and all of a sudden, my podcast bag didn't make it on the row with me. We just rescheduled it for today. My internet didn't want to work. So I'm actually filming this on my phone because I refuse to make Laurie wait again. I refuse to miss this opportunity. But first off, man, how are you?

Just how are you doing first time All-Star? How is life, my brother? Life's great, man. Just trying to fight for this playoff spot, trying to focus on each game. Like I can't complain. We're on a, like we just talked about, we're on a 13-day trip, so you know how much of a grind it is. So I'm as well as you can be. Absolutely.

And speaking of that, you know, I like to let the interview flow. And just speaking of fighting for a playoff spot, I think it's absolutely incredible what you guys have done this year. Danny Aange comes in as the president of Utah Jazz. He starts shaking a bunch of things up. So everyone looks at the team when all the trades go down and say, this team is going to be the worst team in the NBA. And yet you guys are right there fighting for a playoff spot. Just what's that been like when y'all came into the season,

did y'all expect to be this good? Or was it just like a thing that start coming together those first? I think y'all started seven or eight and oh or something like that. Yeah, so I was on here like the preseason pickup game period of time because I was overseas playing. So I got here right before training came and just saw the first practice. I was on the sidelines.

We got a lot of dudes who I think, think that they have been counted out and have a chip on their shoulders. So just we had to get on the same page. We had eight or nine guys coming from different teams to, so we knew it's going to take a lot of time and a lot of work. But then we got off to a hot start. And obviously, that feeds your confidence.

and you just want to keep going. So I think that was our motivation, kind of people counting us out. And like myself, there's a lot of players that maybe thought that their career was going in the wrong direction, and we wanted to prove ourselves. So that was a big thing for us.

And again, speaking of making the playoffs, recently at the trade deadline, you guys just traded two, well, what, really more than two, but two in particular, to the Lakers and Malik Beasley and Jared Vanderbill who were big parts

of your rotation, obviously also Mike Conley leaving, but with those two guys going to the Lakers, Mike Conley getting traded and you're right in that battle trying to fight for a playoff spot. What's the mindset like for yourself and for guys on the team when you trade big pieces like that

who's been contributing at a high level all year for you guys? I mean, yeah, it's tough. Obviously, the relationship part and we had a good thing going on. And so that part sucks, but the conversation we had with front offices and everybody was just like, just need to trust us.

And I think the players are never going to give up. So we just try to find new ways to stay on top of surface and just keep going. And I think it's an opportunity for other guys to step up and not trying to myself, trying to take that leadership part as well, just trying to see where I can lead the team. And also speaking of trades, like I said, you've been a part of a couple big trades, one with Minnesota with Jimmy Butler. This particular trade with Donovan Mitchell going to the Utah Jazz. A lot of, like I said, at the beginning, a lot of people have counted you out as if you weren't a player that everyone had hoped for.

Yet you're getting traded for all-star guys like Jimmy Butler. You're getting traded for all-star guys like Donovan Mitchell. when you get traded in a situation like that, whereas four guys like that, do you somewhere in the back of your mind feel like, well, I can't necessarily be what they're saying I am because yet these big trades are still happening.

I am the marquee guy from my side of the deal that's going in these trays for these All-Star players at the time before you're an All-Star. Yeah, the Jim and Butler trade, I didn't really even think of it most because obviously at the draft and you're a young kid, everything's just happening so fast. I'm trying to come in and play as well as I can.

So I didn't even really think that much of that trade. But then by this Donovan Mitchell trade happened, I think just I understood the business side of basketball already. Like I loved being in Cleveland. I had a great year, great relationships throughout the whatever eight months I stayed there and love all the guys there. But I understood that, I mean, you have a chance to get player like Donovan. Like you probably can pull the trigger on it.

So I understood it. So, I mean, it's always tough, especially with the family. It's just trying to survive in a new environment again. But, I mean, I can tell it was a blessing now for myself and my career, getting in the right system and environment. Ironically, and watching Cleveland season, I think they're having a really good season. A lot of teams have a really good season. and I look at that team now and you're the missing piece. And it's just funny how it all works out.

It's like you get traded for Donovan Mitchell. And like you said, if you're the Cleveland Cavaliers, you have to make the trade. You have an opportunity to get a guy like Donald McIrott. I understand it. But yet, and looking back on it, I just think it's funny that I watch that team. And I'm like, hmm, they're really, like, if they had a three man with some great size, knocked the shot down, that you could actually like put the ball in his hands, they play Caras Laverta at the three, but in my opinion,

Carras Laverter is a two, you know, and so it's a little different. And so I think that's interesting. But speak to me. Growing up in Western Finland, at what point in your journey does it come to you that the NBA is a realistic goal? Yeah, I mean, I wasn't able to watch like live NBA games growing up, and it was just all highlights. And so it doesn't really seem realistic.

It's just so far away. And my goal is to be a professional player and get to the national team level in Finland. That was my main goal. And then the college court opened for me. And once I got to Arizona, I still wasn't on, I don't think I was on any mock drafts or anything. I don't know if that matters a lot. But I mean, I wasn't seeing my name anywhere. So just first couple months at Arizona, it's just,

Started playing pretty well. And then my name starts popping, man, this might be a real possibility. That was right around January maybe. Like, crazy. Really, I was going for college. A lot of guys say that they knew I'm a one and done. But in my mind, I was going there to get better. And I thought I'm going to be there multiple years.

So I didn't think I was that close yet. But then season progressed. And I thought I had to take the leap when you have the opportunity. So it really happened quickly in my mind because he just keep worrying about every day and grinding it out. And then two months before the draft, you're like, oh, I can do this. And you just said, and growing up in Western Finland, you couldn't watch the games live. Explain that to me because, number one, I think it goes to show how far the NBA has come. I think Adam Silver does an incredible job.

but explain that to me why you couldn't watch the game lives. Was it a TV capability thing or compatibility thing? Or was that the time difference was so dramatic that you just weren't able to stay up and watch the games? Yeah, just as a kid, the games come at 3 or 4 a.m., so I just wasn't able to stay up. And I can't remember exactly. Like, if I really wanted to wake up,

I'm sure there would have been a way to some stream, just get online and see you. games, but I think it's easier now, and that's just so what you just said, just availability of the league, just it's all over the world now. And like I know my friends and family are easily watching my games. They can watch it on league paths, whatever. So just I didn't have the opportunity. And I think it was mostly the time difference, obviously.

It just can't be waking up at 3 or 4 a.m. and going to school at 8 a.m. So. Absolutely. Okay. And you just spoke about, like, my goal was to be on the national team. And I think it's a, I want to dive into that a bit. So just number one, how beneficial you get entreated to the Utah Jazz opened up a space where, you know, you're coming in and it's, like you said, it's a bunch of good players on the team,

but not anyone that's become a superstar until, you know, you know, you, now you, you come an all-star, but coming into this season, no one's a superstar. Everybody, you know, you've got a bunch of good players, but no one's a superstar. You come out of Euro championships, European championships, where you're with your national team and you are a superstar, you are the star, you are the go-to guy. How did coming out, coming immediately from there, right into the NBA season,

in a position to where you could actually jump into to that role, how much did that help you blossom into who you've grown into this year in the Utah Jazz and, you know, who you will be now in the future as the NBA continues to go, as your career continues to go? Yeah, I think it's just about everything really clicking. Obviously, my confidence was super high going to the Eurobass and being the guy and seeing all different coverages and trying to lead the team over there. But then just getting into Utah and, like you said, no real superstars.

everybody trying to figure it out and just got to I always give a lot of credit to coaching staff and teammates obviously but the first thing coach Hardy was like yeah we just need the same version that you were playing over there we needed it here and I think that that was a really big thing for me just being the guy in Cleveland who I took the challenge the guard the best players on team and really try to do whatever a team needed me to do. And they still traded me. So that was just the business of basketball. That kind of switched my mindset, too, that I got the confidence back up in the Eurobasket

and just coming in with that and just try to keep that going. So that was a big mental switch for me, too. It seems to me, it seems to me in watching basketball, I've had the opportunity to compete in two Olympics. So I've gotten pretty familiar with the international game. And it seems to me, Olympics, World Championships, and Eurobasket championships. It seems to me for the Europeans or really any country outside of America,

that winning those three is a much higher priority than necessarily winning the NBA championship. Is that the case? And if so, why is that? Yeah, I'm not the one. who said anything about NBA champion, I haven't been close to that yet, so you can probably compare that a little bit more.

But I mean, I always take a lot of pride representing the national team. Obviously, that's where we're from and trying to, I'm the only finished guy in the NBA. I'm trying to carry that torch over here as well. And obviously, my ultimate goal is to win the NBA championship, but I haven't been to playoffs yet. And so I still got some ways to go.

but I think, I mean, there are very important goals from both, but just maybe the, I've always represented Finland my whole life. So maybe that's why it could be a bigger deal, that it's been a long-term goal for myself since like NBA's really last couple of years. So, but obviously, I want to experience both. Yeah, no, for sure. think, you know, and the way you just put it, like, it's been a long-term thing. You guys, you grew up in Finland.

You've been that your whole life. You know, these guys grow up in France. You grow up with the same guys growing up the whole time, yeah. Yeah, so I think it's like that pride for your country because here's the thing. Over the last few years, I've become more of a football fan. And, you know, and that's huge in Europe. And it's like a religion, you know, like, like, like football in Europe is like a religion.

National team in Europe, you guys almost do national team every summer. Whereas for us, we usually get a team together. And maybe that particular team is together for two years. And so I think it's kids in America, they grow up wanting to play in the NBA. You know, and you grow up like, man, I want to win an NBA championship. once you get to the NBA, then it's like, wow, I want to play for Team USA. You know, like I want to compete. I want to win a gold medal.

But that's once you get to a certain point of your NBA career. You know, it's not necessarily like I grew up saying, man, I want to play on a national team. I grew up saying, man, I want to play for the Detroit Piston. So I want to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. So to me, that's just been an interesting thing to watch as I've gone through my couple journeys. Yeah, maybe it's more of a. a realistic goal as a kid too for myself coming from smaller country just it's much more realistic that I play on the national team than I actually make it to the NBA and play for

certain team here so maybe that's part of it too but yeah always take a lot of pride try to play every time I can and I think I've played my best basketball in the NBA after having the summer with the national team just being in good shape coming and back, right, ready for training. Get off the bench, bet the NBA with Fandul, America's number one sportsbook. Right now, Fandul is given new customers 10 times your first bet in bonus bets. Doesn't matter if your first bet is an airball. You'll get up to $200 in bonus bets, win or lose.

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I agree with you 100%. I actually played in the Olympics. The last time I played in the Olympics, I really wanted to play because I was coming off really too shitty in probably two of my worst NBA seasons. And I'm like, yo, I need to, like, come into tip top. I need to do Olympics so I can come into the season and tip top shape so I can get back to an all-star level. And it actually ended up working out that way. But I always tell people, when you're coming off that Olympic, when you're coming off that

Olympic summer or Euro championships or world championships, like, you come in and shape, you hit the ground running, it sets you up for the rest of the year. So I think that's been a huge thing. I asked a question on this podcast a couple weeks ago to Gilbert Arenas, and I would love your take on the being that you are European. I would just love your view on it. It's actually come up on television once last week, or earlier this week with Kendrick Perkins and JJ Reddick.

Now, I think Kendrick Perkins started talking white and black or something white and black. My question was more so, do you, think, or why is it, that, I saw this list. Stephen A. put a list out. And it said, top five players with the most pressure to win an NBA championship. It's like James Hardin, someone else, someone else. Oh, Jason Tatum was number two or three. And Joker was number four. And so when I saw that, I said, that's interesting to me because Jason is younger than Joker,

number one. Jason is also not an MVP in the NBA yet. Jokers are two-time, possibly sooner be three-time MVP. How is he higher up on that list? And it brought me to a place where I'm like, I feel like Europeans or American-born players catch more flat,

and it kind of goes into the same thing of what I was just saying about championships and how European players may feel. American players catch more flat. flack for winning a championship than European stars do. Do you think that's the case? That's just what I've noticed.

And that list really put it at the forefront for me. So I would love European just as a European player. Yeah, they might get away with it a little bit more. I haven't really thought of it, but so kind of putting me on the spot.

But I mean, just, like I said, I didn't really, I don't know what the conversations were like when, like exactly when Dirk wasn't winning a championship yet. And then when he finally won one, what I got, there was some pressure for him to win one.

Well, I don't know, maybe it's from, I mean, to league NBA is a league in America. And we're coming from a different country, try to adapt and getting into your league. So maybe that's why, but like I've seen the list.

And, uh, yeah, I, I hear more pressure talk being towards American players. So definitely notice that, but just I'm not really sure why. That's my thinking behind that. It's crazy because you just gave me a perspective that I had not thought of. And now that you say that I can definitely think back to it, which is dirt. Uh, I remember now, now that you say that, going back to 2010-9, 2011, where Dirk is still, at that point, Dirk's been in Dallas for what, 15 years, 14 years, somewhere around there.

And you started to hear like, man, Dirk is a great player. Dirk is incredible. He's this, but you can't necessarily win with him. They're not going to win with him the guy in Dallas. They're facing a lot of Miami-Heath. So now that you say that, I do remember that. I do remember Dirk starting to catch flat. later in his career, you know, a year 14 to 15.

So I definitely can appreciate that perspective. Fifth straight year, fifth straight. And, I mean, yeah, it's definitely going to be the fifth straight year. Where we have an international player winning the MVP, you know, Joker's right in it, and B's right in it, Janis, Luca. And then probably Jason Tatum is the fifth one to probably round out that top five. What do you think is doing for the game of basketball that you're having Europeans winning MVP in the NBA year after year after year?

I think that's, I think it's great for the game of basketball and it's global footprint. But what do you think is doing for the game? Yeah, obviously, it's just the more, I mean, more they have done, the NBA is growing and it's all over the world now. It's just be visiting a ton of like basketball. without borders camps. There's so many good players coming from different continents,

and that's just great to see. Just obviously, it's known to be a lot of Americans in the league, but just having those superstar guys coming from different countries, but a lot of them are from Europe. And so it's great to see, and I think the games is going to keep growing and growing. But they're definitely a big part of it, just how much basketball has grown in Finland.

And I see people wearing Janusis jerseys in Finland and stuff like that. So that's an awesome see. And we're really in it together. Obviously, I would wish they wear my jersey, but I'm just grateful to see it. Basketball is just growing. And so many more kids are starting to play basketball because of those superstars. So they're doing great job, too. Well, you've gone to the Utah Jazz and become a star.

You're an all-star, which means you'll have more television games next year, which means more and more people in Finland and all over Europe will start wearing your jersey. So I think your wish will be granted, my brother. I definitely think it will. Luca made a comment some years ago, maybe his first or second year in the NBA, where he said scoring in the NBA

is way easier than scoring in Europe. Do you carry that same sentiment? Partially, yeah. I think just what I noticed this summer, for example, in Eurobasket, obviously I didn't play Euroleague just like Luca did. So my experience is coming from a Eurobasket, but just definitely not getting the same foul calls that I am in the NBA. No defense in three seconds. Obviously, shorter game clock, only 40-minute game. So I think that affects on like points per game averages already.

just and so yeah I would probably agree uh just it's a different game uh like you have one superstar on a European team and like I I was watching what obviously Jan is a is a great player superstar and I was watching what Czech Republic was doing to Greece this summer and they were literally five guys in the paint because there was no three second rule so that definitely affects that and I don't know if it's I still scored more in Euro basket I had scored in the NBA so I don't know if it's completely true but yeah definitely he's on something no I definitely can agree with the defensive three seconds you like when we went last year we were playing against France and they were still playing like two legit centers Rudy Gobert Mustafa Fall Dustin Port they're playing like

legit two centers. We're out there like, yo, what is this? Like, this is crazy. So it's definitely a different game. I'm a free agent. Sell to me to Utah Jazz on, you know,

you'll be in Utah for a long time now, brother. Sell, sell to me, a free agent, not literally me, but just you're selling someone to come to Utah Jazz, join you as a free agent, continue to help boost this team. You're talking about making the playoffs.

And obviously, then you, you sniff that you start wanting to make runs so sell to me to Utah jazz as a free agent what would Laurie marking and say to free agents coming up because it's going to be on you to start recruiting my brother yeah I mean I'm really enjoying staying there obviously just a I'm more of a low-key guy so it's been a great city for me and my family be and my kids to grow So off the court, everything's great. Just great organization taking care of us. And game-wise, I always felt like Utah was one of the toughest places to play.

And that's a fact. That's because of fan base and they always have our back. So it's really fun to go play every night. And just we compete, we're trying to win that, get that winning culture. And obviously, we have a great coach now. And so I've been really enjoying this year. And we play hard. and just having the fan base

and people in Utah really love basketball. So you can see it all around. So I'm really happy to be a part of it and hopefully we get some guys coming over too. Absolutely. That's incredible. You just spoke about having a great head coach.

Now I actually had the opportunity to, I actually had the opportunity to play with Will Hardy coaching. He was one of our coaches for the USA team. Super cool dude, extremely knowledgeable, very relatable. But just talk to me about

Will Hardy as a coach. Like, you know, everyone sees this new face pop up on the sidelines of the NBA with Utah Jazz. And, you know, people around fans doesn't quite know who it is.

Talk to me about Will Hardy as a coach and what he's brought to the organization. I think it starts with just, But you said, it's a really cool dude. You can talk to him off the court, have lunch with him, and just talk other non-related, non-basketball-related stuff. And just it really helps us on the court with us having that relationship. So it starts from there, but just a really smart coach.

We've run, he's run plays for me this year that I've never had seen before. And you get a wide open layup off of it. And so you can just tell that he's thinking on a different level. level and so I'm really excited to be building this relationship with him. And so it's been a great experience in this whatever six months I've been in Utah. But yeah, just obviously first time head coach, young guy, but it doesn't really look like. He's he's had a lot of experience with obviously being with under like great head coaches as well. so he has that experience

and he's really taking this thing to another level. That's incredible. And I think he'll continue to grow. I think he's one of the bright young coaches in this league, which I think is absolutely amazing. It's going to be good there and probably will be there just like yourself

for a very long time. Before we get out of here, man, you've mentioned your family three times since we've been on here for 27 minutes. And I can't help but notice that As a family man, myself, I've been married now for six, seven months, seven months, six months, soon to be seven months. I have three children. Just speak to me, number one, how many children do you have?

And then also, what it's like living his NBA life and being a father at the same time, going for 13 days currently right now. Just talk to me about what it's like being a father and living the world that we live in. Yeah, so. I got a wife and a five-year-old boy and a two-year-old daughter at home. So, I mean, it's everything. It's really helped me to play on this level at the same time. Like, obviously, it's tough to be away from the family

and you want to spend the most time with them, obviously. But just they understand it's my job, and I respect them for understanding that. That requires a lot of time, just not games. trips but going into get treatments and practices and extra work you have to put in so but they've really helped me in a way that I was struggling my first couple years really my first year because our son was born my halfway through my rookie year so wow but that that already helped me that I had a problem with separating my not non-basketball stuff from basketball it was

basketball is always just game. I played fun. And then now it's my job and I'm getting paid for it. So I was in a gray area of kind of you want to enjoy it, but at the same time, you have the pressure to perform. So just being married and having kids, I think he really helped me to separate the two. I have a bad game. It's a bad day of work. I close the locker room door and go play hide and seek with my son, whatever. So that really helped me in my basketball career, kind of enjoying the basketball on whatever happens, good or bad, I go home and it's, it doesn't matter anymore. So that's really helped me and I'm really grateful for that. You walk in that house, they don't care if you won. If you won, you're no bigger of a superstar than if you lost. Yeah, yeah, right. I don't care if you miss all my shots or made all of them.

So what's what's it like so so I'll tell you one of the things I struggle with. I know we got to get out of here. I'll tell you one of the things I struggle with as a parent. And it's it's my own head, which I can acknowledge. But growing up in Saginaw, Michigan, you grew up in Western Finland, obviously two totally different places. But smaller places in the grand scheme of the world, I always, fear my children not understanding the grind, you know, not understanding or appreciating things

and not understanding what it's like to be an underdog. I always fear, you know, my kids growing up living the life that they're living. How does that ultimately play out when they're adults? For you, it goes even a step further, whereas I'm still in America. although I'm not in Saginaw, Michigan, still in America. But for you, you actually have to teach your kid an entirely different culture. How do you go about that and balancing that to make sure that your kids who are growing up here in America for at least eight months out of the year, nine months out of the year, that they understand the Finnish culture,

that they speak the language fluently. Like, how fluently, how do you go about? making sure that they get that side of you. Yeah, it's definitely something you have to think about. And that's pretty much the reason why I spend most of my off-season back home in Finland just to get my kids over there and trying to keep Finland important to them as well. Obviously, their grandparents are there and everybody.

So trying to keep it important. Obviously, who knows how long I'm going to play in the NBA, but they're probably teenagers at the time. So it's going to be a tough decision at the end, like where are we going to be living? But I just want them to learn and appreciate both sides of it. And obviously, you never know what's going to happen in the future. So we speak finish at home so that automatically kind of stays with us.

So just spending time both places and learning the different cultures and make them really appreciate both of them how different they are. And that's the main thing. And before we get out of here, world championships this summer, Olympics next summer, what can we expect from Finland

with these two events coming up? Expect us to make some noise. I think we're getting better as a basketball country and we're all confident going in and just the first time we actually qualified through the games. to the World Cup, so everybody's excited. We're going to bring a ton of fans over there,

and hopefully we get to play you guys. Well, I hope so, too, brother. I definitely hope so, too. I enjoy when I'm playing international competition, watching you guys go back home, like, you go back home. And now you've become that player in the NBA as well, but watching how good an Evan Fornier is at basketball when he goes and plays for French,

watching how Patty Mills, who's probably the greatest people player ever, how good he is at basketball when he goes and plays for Australia. You know, you go into it with like this mindset, or we go and play Australia, and Matisse Thiebill is walking into threes. Like, you go and watch guys, like, play with, like, their countries,

man, and it's the most incredible thing. It's the most incredible. experience. Lowry, Mike, Lowry, marketing, my brother, I can't thank you enough for coming on the show, man. You're welcome back anytime. You know, I try to go by this thing, man, and yet I don't want to alienate anybody because we're always appreciative of all guests.

But I always say, man, you got to have a little resume to come on the Draymond Green show. You know, you can't just be some guys out here talking and, you know, getting interviews and stuff. Like, you got to have a resume. man, you can't be Dylan Brooks or something. So I appreciate you coming on the show, my brother. Appreciate you having me, man. That was fun.

No doubt, brother. Thank you.