Photo: Instagram/Lauri Markkanen Lauri Markkanen , the forward for the Utah Jazz , has been awarded the 2022-23 Kia NBA Most Improved Player after an outstanding season that saw him make his first All-Star appearance. The announcement was made at 2 a.m. in Helsinki, where Markkanen is currently serving in the Finnish military. He beat out fellow finalists Jalen Brunson and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to win the award, receiving 69 of the 100 first-place votes and appearing on every ballot. Photo: Instagram/Lauri Markkanen's improvement this season has been nothing short of remarkable, and he has risen to the challenge with every game. During his first season with the Jazz, Markkanen's personal production and efficiency increased in all areas, logging career highs in scoring, rebounding, assists, and free throw attempts. He shot 49.9% overall, 39.1% from 3-point range, and 87.5% from the free-throw line. Markkanen also became the first player in NBA history to convert over 200 3...