Surrounded by elite young scorers and shifting toward a winning culture, Utah’s cornerstone is primed to sacrifice volume for efficiency and finally pursue a postseason breakthrough.
Despite playing just over half the season in 2025-26, Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen posted the highest nightly scoring total (26.7 points per game) of his career.
His efficiency slightly dipped ... as did his rebounding average ... but the 42 games in which the Utah Jazz had Markkanen's services, he looked every bit as much of an All-Star as he did back in 2023.
But next year will be different. The Jazz's goals are different. Their roster is different.
Markkanen's role will be different, too — and that could lead to the best season of his career.
Stay with me.
Utah added Darryn Peterson with the No. 2 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, a two-way combo guard with elite scoring ability who is sure to demand touches from day one.
Ace Bailey ... another microwave scorer ... gets another offseason under his belt as he develops his defensive traits ahead of his second professional campaign.
Keyonte George, who may have won the Most Improved Player of the Year award last season had he met the 65-game threshold, will be entering a pivotal season that could warrant a shiny new contract.
All those guys will need to score the ball, which, logically, would diminish Markkanen's touches.
So how do I figure 2026-27 could be Markkanen's best?
The numbers he's put up virtually every season since arriving in Salt Lake City were generated out of necessity. At times, Markkanen was one of the few viable, experienced options on the floor.
The points had to come from somewhere.
But, with the moves the Jazz have made this summer, that won't be required anymore.
Markkanen will finally have the opportunity to settle into a winning role as Utah sets its sights on its first postseason appearance since 2022.
And he'll finally have the complementary pieces around him that can help make that happen.
Now, the statistics may drop — which could hurt Markkanen's chances of earning the second All-Star appearance of his career.
But just like LaMelo Ball did with the Charlotte Hornets last year, Markkanen's numbers can fall despite his overall play contributing more towards winning.
Fewer forced shots. More open looks. Less defensive attention. More meaningful basketball in March and April.
That's the tradeoff Utah would gladly accept.
If Peterson, Bailey and George develop the way the Jazz believe they will, Markkanen may no longer need to carry the offense every night.
... and ironically, that may be exactly what unlocks the best version of him yet.
