How to Guard Lauri Markkanen
Lauri does most of his damage from three-point (40.2% of his attempts) and is a below-the-arc scorer. The plan below is built from where he actually shoots this season.
Where Lauri scores
Share of his 2025-26 field-goal attempts by zone, with how efficiently he finishes each. This is the map the game plan is built on.
The scouting report: how to defend Lauri
Wall off the paint early
Lauri takes 28.1% of his shots at the rim and finishes 70.8% there. Build the wall before he turns the corner and force the ball back out rather than meeting him at the cup.
Go under screens, sag into the paint
He is a lower-volume or below-average outside shooter (35.5% on 324 attempts). You can go under ball screens and sink into the paint to take away the drive and dare him to settle for the jumper.
Do not bail him out at the line
Lauri gets to the free-throw line about 6.4 times a game and hits 89.6% once there. Contest straight up with a vertical hand and avoid reaching, sending him to the line is the cheapest offense he has.
Get Lauri's full matchup plan
The page above is the shot profile. HoopBrief turns it into a complete game plan, the exact coverage to run, on-ball positioning by spot, whistle tendencies, and the one counter to deny, in your own coaching lens.
Frequently asked questions
How do you guard Lauri Markkanen?
Wall off the paint early: Lauri takes 28.1% of his shots at the rim and finishes 70.8% there. Build the wall before he turns the corner and force the ball back out rather than meeting him at the cup. Go under screens, sag into the paint: He is a lower-volume or below-average outside shooter (35.5% on 324 attempts). You can go under ball screens and sink into the paint to take away the drive and dare him to settle for the jumper. Do not bail him out at the line: Lauri gets to the free-throw line about 6.4 times a game and hits 89.6% once there. Contest straight up with a vertical hand and avoid
What is Lauri Markkanen's biggest weakness on offense?
Relative to the rest of his shot diet, Lauri is least efficient on his mid-range attempts (28.9% on 76 shots this season). Steering him toward that shot, rather than the ones he makes at a high rate, is the statistical edge.
Is Lauri Markkanen a good three-point shooter?
Lauri has taken 324 three-pointers this season and made 115 of them (35.5%). That share of his offense (40.2% of his attempts) is what decides whether you chase him over screens or sag under them.
How many points per game does Lauri Markkanen average?
Lauri is averaging 26.7 points per game this season, along with 2.1 assists and 6.9 rebounds. Scoring volume is why he draws the defensive game plan on this page.
How to guard other players
Shot-profile and box-score figures reflect Lauri Markkanen's 2025-26 season. Defensive recommendations are generated from that shot distribution and are teaching guidance, not a guarantee of outcome.