Bulls shut down Markkanen following episode of rapid heart rate, fatigue
Lauri Markkanen's 2018-19 campaign has come to a premature end.
The Chicago Bulls are shutting down the 21-year-old sophomore for the remainder of the regular season after he experienced rapid heart rate and fatigue during Tuesday's 112-103 loss to the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena.
Tests to determine the cause of his episode came back normal. Additional tests will take place over the next 10-to-14 days for precautionary reasons.
"The long-term health of our players is always our organization’s top priority,” Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson said in an official statement Wednesday night. "We will continue to monitor Lauri’s condition and work with our medical staff and doctors to provide him with everything he may need.”
Markkanen wasn't in uniform for Chicago's blowout 118-98 home loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday after remaining north of the border overnight with what the Bulls listed as "extreme fatigue."
The seventh overall pick in the 2017 draft ends the season averaging 18.7 points, nine rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.6 blocks on 43 percent shooting across 52 appearances for the now 21-55 Bulls.
Rookies Wendell Carter Jr. (left thumb) and Chandler Hutchison (toe) were shut down by the Bulls on Saturday.