By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Prior to choosing his No. 24 jersey after being selected seventh overall by the Bulls in the draft in June, rookie Lauri Markkanen asked Scalabrine permission to wear No. 24. No one had worn it since Scalabrine retired in 2012.
“I told him, ‘Of course.’ You could be ‘The Finnish Mamba” Scalabrine recalled.
“I’m a big fan of his,” he added. “Real good dude. He’s a 7-footer who has range. And you can tell he adapts quickly.”
Markkanen is the team’s leading rebounder with 9.6 boards per game and second-leading scorer with 15.6 points per outing.
New hero!! @bulls @FisolaNYDN @SiriusXMNBA @nba pic.twitter.com/C99FXDiJfj
— Brian Scalabrine (@Scalabrine) October 31, 2017