(670 The Score) Bulls big man Lauri Markkanen has been cleared to resume full basketball-related activities after being shut down for the final seven games of the season after experiencing an elevated heart rate and "extreme fatigue," the team announced Thursday.
Markkanen experienced his health problems in a loss at Toronto on March 26 and was sidelined the rest of the way. He wore a heart monitor in supervised workouts in recent weeks and now been cleared after completing examinations from cardiologists at both Rush University Medical Center and Johns Hopkins University, the team said.
Markkanen was examined by Dr. Richard Trohman, co-director of cardiology and director of electrophysiology at Rush University Medical Center. Markkanen was also examined by Dr. Hugh Calkins, director of electrophysiology at Johns Hopkins University. Both physicians found Markkanen's symptoms to be caused by dehydration and nutrient deficiency, the Bulls said.
Markkanen will have a standard period of rest to open the offseason, then start his training in his native Finland before returning to Chicago mid-summer.
Markkanen missed the first 23 games of the season with a severe right elbow sprain that he suffered in training camp. He started slow in his return before heating up in January and significantly in February before tailing off in March. He finished his second season averaging 18.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.6 blocks, 0.7 steals and 1.6 turnovers in 32.3 minutes across 52 games. He shot 43 percent from the field and 36.1 percent on 3-pointers.
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.
