Utah Jazz F Lauri Markkanen Ranks Second in Ugly NBA Stat

Markkanen has yet to make the playoffs in his 8-year career despite being one of the league's top offensive talents.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 5:33pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball game in motion, with sharp planes of color and overlapping shapes representing the competitive energy of the sport.A cubist interpretation of Lauri Markkanen's quest to finally reach the NBA playoffs after 8 seasons of near-misses.Salt Lake City Today

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen has emerged as one of the NBA's most potent offensive players, but he has yet to experience the playoffs in his 8-year career. Markkanen currently ranks second in the league for most career games played without a single playoff appearance, trailing only Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges.

Why it matters

Markkanen's lack of playoff experience is surprising given his offensive production and All-Star caliber play. It highlights the challenges he has faced in making the postseason, whether due to his team's struggles or simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. As Markkanen enters his prime, there is hope that the Jazz can finally end his playoff drought next season.

The details

In his time with the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, and now the Utah Jazz, Markkanen has been unable to lead his teams to the playoffs. The Jazz have missed the postseason for four consecutive seasons since acquiring Markkanen, but the team is optimistic about their chances next year. Markkanen has expressed confidence that the Jazz can make the playoffs, citing the team's young talent, improved health, and offseason roster moves as reasons for optimism.

  • Markkanen is currently in his 8th NBA season.
  • The Jazz have missed the playoffs for the last 4 seasons.

The players

Lauri Markkanen

A 25-year-old power forward for the Utah Jazz who has emerged as one of the NBA's most potent offensive threats, but has yet to make the playoffs in his 8-year career.

Miles Bridges

A forward for the Charlotte Hornets who currently holds the record for the most career games played without a playoff appearance.

Utah Jazz

An NBA team based in Salt Lake City, Utah that has missed the playoffs for the last 4 seasons but is optimistic about their chances of ending that drought next year.

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What they’re saying

“I mean, the league is super talented, and I think we've got to put it together. But we've definitely have a chance. That's our mindset going into the year, that we will make the playoffs.”

— Lauri Markkanen, Utah Jazz Forward

What’s next

The Jazz will look to improve their roster through free agency and the draft this offseason in order to position themselves to make the playoffs next season and end Markkanen's drought.

The takeaway

Lauri Markkanen's lack of playoff experience despite his individual success highlights the challenges of building a consistent winner in the NBA. However, the Jazz appear poised to end that drought next season, which would be a major milestone in Markkanen's career.