CHICAGO — Maaari nang sumama si Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen sa ensayo ng koponan palapit sa kanyang season debut matapos magkaroon ng sprained right elbow noong Setyembre.
Pinayagan na si Markkanen ng team doctors ng Chicago na makibahagi sa full practice simula nga-yon, ayon kay head coach Fred Hoiberg.
“He’s passed every hurdle that he’s had, as far as being medically cleared and going out and doing the individual workouts, having a controlled contact 2-on-2 session and then yesterday coming and going full-court 2-on-2 with some of our players,” wika ni Hoiberg bago labanan ng Bulls ang San Antonio Spurs.
“He felt good this morning and then went through shootaround and tomorrow will be the next test to see if he’s ready,” dagdag pa nito.
Ang seven-footer na si Markkanen ang inaasahang magiging centerpiece ng rebuilding plan ng Bulls.
Pinili siya ng Minnesota Timberwolves bilang No. 7 overall pick noong 2017 NBA Draft bago dinala sa Chicago bilang bahagi ng Jimmy Butler deal.
Nagtala siya ng mga averages na 15.2 points at 7.5 rebounds sa 68 games bilang rookie.