The NBA is always full of remarkable events, and this round was no different. Talented Utah Jazz player Lauri Markkanen has been named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his career.

With a stellar performance, Markkanen led the Jazz to an impeccable 4-0 record, with impressive victories over top teams like Milwaukee, Denver, Toronto and Los Angeles.

He has been fundamental in Utah's rise, averaging 23.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game, maintaining an efficiency of 49.2% on field goals and 39.5% on three-pointers.

In addition to recognition in the NBA, Markkanen was honored as the 2023 Athlete of the Year in Finland, being the first basketball player to receive such an honor and the fifth team sport athlete to win this award.

The race for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game is also in full swing. Voting is underway and fans are actively participating to choose their favorite players.

The voting process is divided into three groups – fans, current NBA players and a media panel – with each segment contributing 25% of the votes to determine the All-Star Game starters. Partial voting results now show the current leaders, and voting will close on Saturday, January 20th at midnight ET.

The starters will be announced on Thursday, January 25th at 7pm ET. The game, which will be the 73rd edition of the NBA All-Star Series, will take place on Sunday, February 18th at 8pm ET at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Fans have the option to vote through the NBA app and NBA.com, and will be able to expect triple votes on specific “3-for-1” days. Voting is also integrated with NBA ID, a loyalty program that offers benefits and rewards from the league and its partners.

Additionally, voters in the United States who cast their ballots will be automatically entered into the NBA ID All-Star Voting Sweepstakes presented by AT&T for a chance to win a trip to All-Star 2024 in Indianapolis.

Finally, Lauri Markkanen and Bam Adebayo were named the NBA Players of the Week for Week 12 of the 2023-24 season.

While Markkanen maintained his stellar performance with averages of 24.5 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game, Adebayo, the Miami Heat's dynamic center forward, also shined with averages of 23.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. Markkanen helped the Jazz maintain an undefeated record during the week, while Adebayo led the Heat to a 3-1 record.

These are just some of the highlights of the NBA round, showing the constant evolution of the sport and its players. The season continues to promise more excitement and notable performances as it moves towards the playoffs:

Sources:

Utah Jazz: Lauri Markkanen named Western Conference Player of the Week


Markkanen and Adebayo: NBA Players of the Week


Voting for the 2024 NBA All-Star Game