Compare NBA players Kevin Love, Lauri Markkanen, and Davis Bertāns in this analysis of shooting range, versatility, and impact as stretch bigs
In their free time, people all around enjoy various sports they engage in and viewing of which. We shall discuss the jewels of the National Basketball Association (NBA), since we are discussing that organization. In the last series, we examined two NBA players with varying skill sets and attributes who would have utilized them on the basketball floor.
We elevate one player here in this series, so we can state that three players will be under discussion. We shall discuss their statistics, special playing techniques, and skill set.
We will also stress the education, height, weight, and many other factors that can help one grasp the athletes’ differences. Let’s start the blog and discuss three athletes who are
Kevin Love
Kevin Love was born on September 7, 1988, in Santa Monica, California, to Karen and Stan Love. He stands 6 feet 8 inches tall (2.03 meters) and weighs 251 pounds (114 kilograms). In 2006, Love was the head coach of Lake Oswego High School’s state championship squad in Oregon.
In addition to becoming a McDonald’s All-American, he was widely considered as one of the top high school players in the entire country.
Love spent one season at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was coached by Ben Howland. He led the Bruins to the Final Four in his rookie year, scoring 17.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. He was part of the crew that took them there.
Following his first year of college, Love decided to sacrifice the remainder of his eligibility and enter the 2008 NBA draft.
The Memphis Grizzlies selected Love with the fifth overall pick in the draft, but he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves on draft night. He was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2008 to 2014, the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014 to 2023, and the Miami Heat from 2023 to present.
Love has been selected to the NBA All-Star squad five times, won the NBA championship with the Cavaliers in 2016, and been named to the All-NBA Second squad twice. From 2008 till the present, he has played professionally.
Career highlights and awards
- NBA champion (2016)
- 5× NBA All-Star (2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018)
- 2× All-NBA Second Team (2012, 2014)
- NBA Most Improved Player (2011)
- NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2009)
- NBA Three-Point Contest champion (2012)
- NBA rebounding leader (2011)
- Consensus first-team All-American (2008)
- Pac-10 Player of the Year (2008)
- First-team All-Pac-10 (2008)
- Naismith Prep Player of the Year (2007)
- Gatorade National Player of the Year (2007)
- McDonald’s All-American (2007)
- 2× First-team Parade All-American (2006, 2007)
Lauri Markkanen
Lauri Markkanen was born May 22, 1997, in Vantaa, Finland.His height is precisely 7 feet (213 cm), and his weight is exactly 240 pounds (109 kg). Markkanen played college basketball for one season while attending the University of Arizona.
Before that, he started his professional basketball career in Finland and Spain. During his first year of college basketball, he averaged 15.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, earning the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year award.
The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Markkanen seventh overall in the 2017 NBA draft; however, on selection night, the Timberwolves traded him to the Chicago Bulls in hopes of obtaining him. In addition, he has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz.
Markkanen has built a reputation throughout his career for his versatility, scoring skill, and rebounding prowess. Throughout his career, he has established himself as one of the league’s most promising young big men, averaging more than 15 points and seven rebounds.
Markkanen has been an invaluable source of scoring and rebounding off the bench for his teams, contributing greatly to their overall success. He has really improved his ability to make plays and shoot from beyond the arc, making him an immensely valuable asset to his squad.
Markkanen has been playing professional basketball since 2017, and his career is still progressing as he develops into one of the game’s most powerful power forwards.
Career highlights and awards
- NBA All-Star (2023)
- NBA Most Improved Player (2023)
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (2018)
- Finnish Athlete of the Year (2023)
- 7× Finnish Player of the Year (2017–2023)
- Third-team All-American – AP, NABC, SN (2017)
- First-team All-Pac-12 (2017)
- Pac-12 All-Freshman team (2017)
- FIBA U20 EuroBasket Top Scorer (2016)
- FIBA U18 EuroBasket Top Scorer (2015)
Lauri Markkanen
Davis Bertāns was born November 12, 1992, in Valmiera, Latvia. He is 6 feet 10 inches (208 cm) tall and weighs 225 pounds (102 kg). Bertāns completed his professional career in Latvia and Spain before entering the 2011 NBA draft.
The Indiana Pacers took him 42nd overall, making him the 44th player chosen overall. However, on draft night, he was dealt to the San Antonio Spurs, and he later played for the Spurs’ G-League franchise.
In 2016, Bertāns made his NBA debut with the San Antonio Spurs, playing as a stretch four off the bench. Following that, he played for the Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards.
Throughout his professional career, Bertāns has been recognized for his excellent three-point shooting, rebounding, and defensive performance. Throughout his career, he has established himself as a valuable role player, averaging more than eight points and three rebounds.
Bertāns’ bench shooting and rebounding skills have contributed significantly to his teams’ success. Another reason his team is fortunate to have him on their roster is that he has shown significant development in his playmaking abilities.
Bertāns has spent most of his career in the NBA, where he has played professionally since 2011. From the bench, he is a consistent role player, giving both energy and production.
Career highlights and awards
- 3× Serbian League champion (2012–2014)
- Serbian Cup winner (2012)
- Adriatic League champion (2013)
- 3× Slovenian Cup champion (2010–2012)
Conclusion – Compare NBA Players
We highlight three NBA players whose talent, skills, and differences merit comparison. Every one of the players have unique skills. Every player has obviously passed through several benchmarks. Although some started later and some started quite early, we cannot overlook their efforts and battle on the basketball floor. Sports are constantly vibrant through passion and by the player’s dedication. Similar players have been under discussion in the past. You can read, “Kentavious Caldwell-Pope vs. Gary Trent Jr. vs. Dillon Brooks: Who’s the Top 3-and-D Player?“and investigate more fresh things about legends of the NBA if you wish to explore more NBA players.”
FAQs – Compare NBA Players
What is Kevin Love known for?
World Champion and five-time All-Star
Does Lauri Markkanen have a signature shoe?
Nike GT Hustle PE
What is Davis Bertans’ salary?
Average annual salary of $16,000,000.
How tall is Dairis Bertans?
6-foot-4-inch (1.93 m)