NBA ALL-STAR MEDIA DAY

February 18, 2023

Lauri Markkanen

Media Day Press Conference

Q. How has your experience been so far?

LAURI MARKKANEN: It's been a lot of fun. Just soaking it all in. Experience definitely a little bit different when you are actually a part of the All-Star Game, but being in my hometown feels great. Just the amount of people that have been supporting here, it's crazy.

Q. Do you expect to win the 3-Point Contest? (Off microphone.)

LAURI MARKKANEN: I appreciate that confidence, having that support behind me. I'm going out there to win. I've been putting some work in. I'm going to go out there and have fun and obviously try to win it. We'll see what happens.

Q. (Off microphone.)

LAURI MARKKANEN: I don't really know. There's been a lot of cool things that happened in the last couple of days, but I think just, like you said, being in my hometown and having my family here and having them experience everything with me, I think that's been pretty cool.

Q. All the players I talked to say they're not surprised that you are here. They knew this was coming. Did you know this was coming eventually?

LAURI MARKKANEN: Eventually, yeah. I never stopped believing. Just been putting the work in. Just have to have the high belief in yourself that anything can happen, and so it's hopefully just the beginning.

Q. It's your first All-Star Game. Are you planning to go out there and be aggressive or seeing what comes?

LAURI MARKKANEN: We'll see how it goes. I'm trying to go out there and have some fun and play to the best of my ability. Hopefully get a couple of dunks in, get a couple of threes and see what happens. But I'm trying to go out there and win.

Q. A lot of times hometown guys win MVP. Is that in your sights?

LAURI MARKKANEN: We'll start thinking about that, like, halfway through the game. We'll see what happens, but, I mean, I'm going to go out there and try to prove I can do these things and just put on a show. That's it.

Q. (Off microphone.)

LAURI MARKKANEN: We've been pretty busy, so I'm not saying we had the chance to hang out with them. I've met a ton of players, and it's kind of cool to see all the celebrities at the games. So it's been a lot of fun the last couple of days.

Q. What's it about this team that's allowed you to elevate your game? What's it been like? What has caused that?

LAURI MARKKANEN: I've said it before too. I think it's a combination of everything. Just working on your game, getting better as a player and then being put in the right system with a coach that uses me to my strengths.

Just having the teammates that believe I'm someone to share the ball. It's not like it's a ton of isos and stuff. Just been trying to play team basketball, so all credit to them too.

Q. (Off microphone.)

LAURI MARKKANEN: Oh, man. What's the message? Everybody has been so great. I mean, I appreciate all of that love that they've been showing me.

I think it's an example that anything can happen when you believe in yourself, and to just keep working. I mean, it wasn't the best couple of years, and then you start climbing back up and get here. I think it's an example of that.

Q. What's it like representing your country?

LAURI MARKKANEN: Oh, it's everything. Just having the love all the way over from Finland, just trying to represent the country to the best of my ability really. Take a lot of pride in that and see how far we can take this thing.