Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen is eagerly looking forward to this year’s EuroBasket in his home country of Finland, confident that the national team has what it takes to make a deep run in the tournament.
Utah Jazz star Lauri Markkanen is eager and ready to represent Finland in this year's EuroBasket, following a grueling and ultimately disappointing NBA season in which the Jazz finished with the league’s worst record.
"We have a big summer with the national team. I’m excited for that," Markkanen said during his end-of-season interview.
Markkanen emphasized how much he values playing for the national team ahead of the NBA season, noting that international competition helps him prepare both physically and mentally.
"Those are the years I’ve always felt my best, to be honest—physically and mentally," he said.
"You’re getting game reps right before the NBA season starts. That kind of gets me excited for the summer—being able to play for your country and seeing how that leads into the NBA season."
The Finnish star also reflected on the last time Finland hosted EuroBasket group games in 2017 and expressed hope of recreating that same electric atmosphere this year in Tampere.
Group B, featuring Finland, Sweden, Great Britain, Montenegro, Lithuania, and Germany, will play its group phase games in Finland.
"It was a packed house every night, a lot of fun, and really competitive games," Markkanen recalled.
"I’m looking forward to building on that. I think we have a really good team. Hopefully, we can create some buzz and make a big run," he added.
Markkanen endured a challenging season in the NBA, struggling with injuries and appearing in just 47 games. He still managed to average 18.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Despite the setbacks, he is expected to be a major force for Finland in EuroBasket.
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