Lauri Markkanen’s Family: Wife, Children, Parents and Siblings

Last Updated on October 12, 2026 by Orlando Bloom

Lauri Markkanen is a Finnish professional basketball player who has established himself as one of the NBA’s most talented international forwards. Born on May 22, 1997, in Vantaa, Finland, the Utah Jazz star comes from an extraordinary sporting family. Both of his parents played professional basketball, while his two older brothers also pursued competitive sports.

Beyond his successful basketball career, Lauri Markkanen’s family includes his wife, Verna Aho, and their three children. His father, Pekka Markkanen, is a former Finnish national team basketball player, while his mother, Riikka Markkanen, also represented Finland internationally. His brothers, Eero and Miikka, have backgrounds in professional football and basketball. Here is everything publicly known about Lauri Markkanen’s wife, children, parents, and siblings.

Lauri Markkanen’s Wife: Who Is Verna Aho?

Verna Aho is Lauri Markkanen’s wife and longtime romantic partner. The couple have known each other since their school years in Finland and married in 2017, shortly after Markkanen began his NBA career.

Unlike many partners of internationally recognized athletes, Verna has generally maintained a private lifestyle, preferring to concentrate on her family rather than building a public celebrity profile.

The couple first met during their school years in Jyväskylä, Finland. According to Finnish media reports, they knew each other during middle school before developing a romantic relationship during their teenage years.

Their relationship continued as Markkanen’s basketball career began attracting international attention.

In 2016, he moved to the United States to play college basketball at the University of Arizona. Despite the distance between them, Lauri and Verna maintained their relationship.

They married in the autumn of 2017, the same year the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Markkanen with the seventh overall pick in the NBA Draft before trading his rights to the Chicago Bulls.

Following their marriage, Verna accompanied her husband to the United States, where they established their family life.

In February 2019, the couple appeared on the Finnish television program Yökylässä Maria Veitola, discussing their relationship, marriage, and life in Chicago.

During the interview, Verna described Lauri as her best friend and explained that trust was central to their relationship.

Markkanen also expressed his appreciation for his wife, explaining that she had positively influenced his personality and everyday habits.

Verna has publicly discussed her interest in environmental issues and plant-based eating, which have also influenced some of her husband’s lifestyle choices.

Although she occasionally appears alongside Lauri in public photographs and media features, detailed information about her education and professional activities remains limited.

As of now, Lauri Markkanen and Verna Aho are married and have three children together.

Lauri Markkanen’s Children: How Many Kids Does He Have?

Lauri Markkanen has three children with his wife, Verna Aho. Their first child, Alvar, was born in January 2018, followed by their daughter Elsa in October 2020. Their third child was born in November 2024.

The couple have generally protected their children’s privacy, sharing occasional family updates without revealing extensive details about their personal lives.

Alvar Markkanen – Lauri Markkanen’s First Son

Alvar Markkanen is Lauri Markkanen and Verna Aho’s eldest child. He was born in January 2018, during his father’s rookie NBA season with the Chicago Bulls.

Becoming a father at a young age was an important personal milestone for Markkanen, who was still adjusting to life as a professional basketball player in the United States.

As Alvar grew older, he began participating in recreational activities with his father.

In a September 2022 interview with Finnish broadcaster Yle, Markkanen discussed his enthusiasm for disc golf, an outdoor sport that had become a favorite family activity.

He explained that Alvar, then four years old, had also developed an interest in the game and frequently asked his father to play.

Markkanen jokingly acknowledged that his son’s technique was already improving quickly.

The experience demonstrated how the basketball star enjoyed spending time with his children away from the demands of the NBA.

Elsa Markkanen – Lauri Markkanen’s Daughter

Elsa Markkanen is Lauri and Verna’s second child and their publicly identified daughter. She was born in October 2020.

Her arrival came during a period when Markkanen was playing for the Chicago Bulls.

Like her older brother Alvar, Elsa has grown up experiencing life between the United States and Finland because of her father’s professional basketball career.

When Markkanen was traded to the Utah Jazz in September 2022, Elsa was approximately two years old.

During interviews following the move, Markkanen explained that his wife and children provided an important source of emotional stability as he adapted to another NBA franchise.

Although Elsa has occasionally been mentioned in Finnish sports coverage, her parents have generally avoided sharing detailed information about her personal activities.

Lauri Markkanen’s Third Child – Born in November 2024

Lauri Markkanen and Verna Aho welcomed their third child in November 2024.

The birth became public after Markkanen missed a Utah Jazz game against the Denver Nuggets on November 27, 2024, for personal reasons.

Finnish national broadcaster Yle subsequently confirmed that the couple had welcomed another baby.

Markkanen also acknowledged the happy family occasion through social media.

When speaking with reporters after returning to the basketball court, he explained that welcoming another newborn was an adjustment because Alvar and Elsa were already several years older.

He also described the older children as excited about their new sibling.

The name and sex of the couple’s third child have not been consistently established by authoritative public reporting, and the family has maintained privacy regarding these details.

Lauri Markkanen’s Parents: Meet Pekka and Riikka Markkanen

Lauri Markkanen was born to Pekka Markkanen and Riikka Markkanen, both former professional basketball players who represented Finland at the international level.

The couple raised three sons, Eero, Miikka, and Lauri, in an environment where competitive sports were part of everyday family life.

Although both parents had successful basketball careers, they encouraged their children to explore different sports rather than insisting that they follow the same professional path.

Lauri Markkanen’s Father: Pekka Markkanen

Pekka Markkanen is Lauri Markkanen’s father and a former Finnish professional basketball player.

Born on May 28, 1967, in Pori, Finland, Pekka enjoyed a successful basketball career both domestically and internationally.

Standing approximately 6 feet 10 inches tall, he played as a center and became an important member of the Finnish national basketball team.

During the 1989–90 college basketball season, Pekka represented the University of Kansas Jayhawks in the United States.

He averaged 6.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game for a Kansas team that finished the season with a 30–5 record.

After returning to Europe, he continued his professional career, representing clubs in Finland and elsewhere on the continent.

He also won multiple Finnish basketball league championships and received Finnish Basketball Player of the Year honors.

At the international level, Pekka made 129 appearances for Finland’s senior national basketball team.

His experience gave Lauri access to valuable basketball knowledge during childhood.

However, Pekka has emphasized that his youngest son’s success was not simply the result of having athletic parents.

In interviews with Finnish broadcaster Yle, he explained that Lauri demonstrated an unusual willingness to practice from a young age.

He also recalled that Lauri frequently competed against his older brothers and wanted to prove that he could match their sporting achievements.

Rather than forcing his sons to play basketball, Pekka encouraged them to pursue whichever sports interested them.

This approach allowed Eero to become a professional footballer while Miikka and Lauri concentrated on basketball.

Lauri Markkanen’s Mother: Riikka Markkanen

Riikka Markkanen, née Ellonen, is Lauri Markkanen’s mother and a former professional basketball player who also represented Finland internationally.

Like her husband Pekka, Riikka developed extensive experience competing at a high level in Finnish basketball.

She later became known for her role in supporting the sporting development of the couple’s three sons.

Riikka has repeatedly emphasized that her children’s athletic success depended on their individual motivation and willingness to work hard.

In a January 2024 interview with Yle, she discussed Lauri’s determination during childhood and recalled an occasion when he spent hours practicing basketball outdoors despite rainy weather.

According to Riikka, Lauri’s dedication to training was evident long before he became a professional basketball player.

She has also spoken about the responsibilities of parents raising young athletes.

In interviews with Finnish media, Riikka explained that parents should provide encouragement, listen to their children, and allow professional coaches to handle technical sporting instruction.

Rather than criticizing performances after matches, she believed her responsibility was to support her sons emotionally and practically.

During Lauri’s teenage years, Riikka temporarily moved with him from Jyväskylä to Helsinki so he could attend Mäkelänrinne Sports High School and continue developing his basketball career.

Her willingness to support his education and training played an important role in his progress toward college basketball in the United States.

In April 2024, Riikka also represented Lauri at an awards ceremony in Jyväskylä, where he received a local honor recognizing his achievements and connection to the city.

Lauri Markkanen’s Siblings: Meet His Brothers Eero and Miikka

Lauri Markkanen has two older brothers: Eero Markkanen and Miikka Markkanen. Both pursued competitive sports, although they followed different professional paths.

Eero became an international footballer who represented Finland and played for clubs in several countries, while Miikka pursued basketball before injuries ended his playing career.

Eero Markkanen – Lauri Markkanen’s Older Brother

Eero Markkanen is Lauri Markkanen’s eldest brother and a Finnish professional footballer.

He was born on July 3, 1991, in Jyväskylä, Finland, and developed an interest in football rather than following his parents into basketball.

Standing approximately 6 feet 6 inches tall, Eero established himself as a striker and began his senior football career in Finland.

During his career, he represented several clubs, including JJK Jyväskylä, HJK Helsinki, AIK in Sweden, Real Madrid Castilla in Spain, Randers in Denmark, and PSM Makassar in Indonesia.

One of his most notable career milestones came in 2014 when he joined Real Madrid Castilla, the reserve team of Spanish football giant Real Madrid.

Although he did not establish himself in Real Madrid’s first team, the move represented a significant achievement for a Finnish footballer.

Eero also represented Finland’s senior national football team, making his international debut in 2014.

Despite growing up in a basketball-oriented household, he chose football as his preferred sport.

In a 2015 interview with Yle, Eero explained that he had attended only a small number of organized basketball practices as a child and had never seriously considered pursuing the sport professionally.

Nevertheless, he maintained a close relationship with his brothers, and the three frequently competed against one another during their childhood.

His career provides an example of how the Markkanen family encouraged individual sporting interests.

Miikka Markkanen – Lauri Markkanen’s Older Brother

Miikka Markkanen is Lauri Markkanen’s other older brother and a former Finnish basketball player.

Miikka followed his parents’ sporting footsteps and developed into a promising basketball player in Finland.

He competed at the Finnish youth national team level and later played basketball in Finland’s domestic first division.

However, injuries prevented him from continuing his playing career.

According to a September 2017 interview with Finnish broadcaster Yle, Miikka initially believed an injury was relatively minor, but the problem persisted and eventually forced him to retire from competitive basketball.

Following his retirement, he concentrated on other professional interests and was studying construction engineering in Kuopio when the interview was published.

Miikka has remained supportive of his younger brother’s basketball achievements.

During the 2017 European Basketball Championship, he expressed pride in Lauri’s performances for the Finnish national team.

He explained that seeing his younger brother, with whom he had spent countless hours playing basketball, compete successfully at an international level was an extraordinary experience.

The brothers’ relationship reflects the competitive but supportive sporting environment in which they grew up.

How Lauri Markkanen’s Family Influenced His Basketball Career

Growing up in Jyväskylä, Lauri Markkanen was surrounded by people with extensive experience in competitive sports.

Both of his parents played international basketball, his older brother Miikka pursued the same sport, and his eldest brother Eero developed into a professional footballer.

According to a 2017 CBS Sports profile, Lauri spent countless hours practicing basketball, often playing outdoors regardless of the weather.

He also participated in football, ice hockey, and other sporting activities with his brothers.

Although his parents had professional basketball experience, they encouraged him to develop his own ambitions.

Lauri eventually joined HBA-Märsky in Helsinki before moving to the United States to play college basketball at the University of Arizona.

During the 2016–17 season, he averaged 15.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while earning First Team All-Pac-12 recognition.

His impressive performances made him one of the leading international prospects in the 2017 NBA Draft.

He was selected seventh overall and began his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls.

Following four seasons in Chicago, he joined the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021 before moving to the Utah Jazz in September 2022.

The move to Utah transformed his professional career.

During the 2022–23 season, Markkanen averaged 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, earning his first NBA All-Star selection.

He also received the 2023 NBA Most Improved Player Award.

Markkanen has repeatedly emphasized that his wife and children provide important emotional support regardless of what happens on the basketball court.

In a December 2022 interview with NBA.com, he explained that spending time with his children helped him maintain perspective after both victories and defeats.

While his professional performances are intensely scrutinized, his children are more interested in playing with their father than discussing his basketball statistics.

That family environment has become an important part of his life as an NBA player.

Lauri Markkanen’s Family Life in Utah and Finland

Although Lauri Markkanen has spent most of his professional basketball career in the United States, he maintains strong connections to Finland.

He and his wife Verna have built their family life around the demands of the NBA season while continuing to spend time in their home country.

In an October 2024 documentary produced by Yle, Markkanen discussed the importance of ordinary family routines away from basketball.

The documentary showed that despite his international fame and substantial NBA earnings, he enjoyed spending time at home with his wife and children.

He also described using traditional Finnish sauna sessions, puzzles, and other quiet activities to relax after demanding games.

In January 2026, Yle published another report about Markkanen’s life in Utah, describing his household as a five-person family that had recently welcomed a Belgian Shepherd dog.

Markkanen explained that the family had chosen to get a dog partly because his professional schedule frequently required him to travel away from home.

His relationship with Finland remains equally important.

During the NBA offseason, Markkanen has regularly returned to his homeland, spending time with relatives and participating in recreational activities.

He also completed his mandatory Finnish military service in 2023, reflecting his continuing responsibilities and connections to his country.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lauri Markkanen’s Family

Who is Lauri Markkanen’s girlfriend?

Lauri Markkanen is married to his longtime partner, Verna Aho. They met during their school years in Finland and married in 2017.

Is Lauri Markkanen married?

Yes. Lauri Markkanen has been married to Verna Aho since 2017. They have three children together.

How many children does Lauri Markkanen have?

Lauri Markkanen has three children: Alvar, born in January 2018; Elsa, born in October 2020; and a third child born in November 2024.

What are the names of Lauri Markkanen’s children?

His two older children are named Alvar and Elsa. The name of his youngest child has not been reliably confirmed in public reporting.

Who are Lauri Markkanen’s parents?

His parents are Pekka Markkanen and Riikka Markkanen, both former professional basketball players who represented Finland internationally.

Who is Lauri Markkanen’s father?

His father is Pekka Markkanen, a former Finnish professional basketball player who represented the University of Kansas and Finland’s national basketball team.

Who is Lauri Markkanen’s mother?

His mother is Riikka Markkanen, née Ellonen, a former Finnish national team basketball player who played an important role in supporting her sons’ athletic development.

How many siblings does Lauri Markkanen have?

Lauri Markkanen has two older brothers, Eero Markkanen and Miikka Markkanen.

Who is Lauri Markkanen’s footballer brother?

His eldest brother is Eero Markkanen, a Finnish professional footballer who has represented Finland internationally and played for Real Madrid Castilla, AIK, and several other clubs.

Does Lauri Markkanen have a brother who played basketball?

Yes. His older brother Miikka Markkanen played competitive basketball in Finland before retiring because of injuries.

Where is Lauri Markkanen from?

Lauri Markkanen was born in Vantaa, Finland, on May 22, 1997, and grew up in Jyväskylä before moving to the United States to pursue college basketball.