Lauri Markkanen is reminding basketball fans that he can become one of the best players in the world at Eurobasket this summer.
Markanen scored around 26 points per game for the Utah Jazz three seasons ago, creating an NBA All-Star team.
However, the injury has disrupted his past two years with jazz and he had to remind everyone that he could do it sooner than later.
Well, Finnish International appeared in Eurobasket this summer, as only two players overtook him.
Former NBA player Tim Regler was impressed by Markanen’s performance, but another Finnish player has been attracting attention.
Finland lacks depth compared to many other European teams, but Markanen has a future NBA player along with him.
18-year-old Miikka Muurinen is impressed by the limited playing time in Finland at Eurobasket, and NBA fans should be careful.
Power Forward, who plays like Markkanen, is expected to be in the NBA draft in the next two seasons.
“They have guys on their team, mainly because they look at Markanen, Mikka Moulinen. “He’s the next guy to them. They’re really hyping him. You can see why.
“I think he’s still a teenager. I think it’s crazy because he has Lori Markanen and Mikka Moulinen. From the bat, he has these names and they have the same physical profile. He’s like 6’11.”
“Think about this. Markanen has been doing some things in the league for a while. He has put up big numbers. He is clearly a Finnish hero.
“It’s crazy because he has a very similar physical dimension. He’s a perspective. He has a great sense of confidence and aggression.
“They don’t play him with tons. I think he played 14 minutes in this game, but when he plays, he’s very active and he’s really long, so you really notice him. He’s so young.
Miikka Muurinen is already based in the US and attended Arizona Compass Prep School last season.
He will soon have to decide which college he will attend for the next season, and his main focus is development into the NBA outlook.
The NBA Draftroom is currently predicting that in 2027 it will be the second overall pick after Kentucky-born Tian Stokes.
Their draft analysis states: “Moulinen is a very skilled mobile tycoon from Finland, one of the best prospects in his class, and looks like the first round pick of the future.
“He’s a talented offensive player who can dribble, pass and shoot the ball. He has a very solid 6-10 frames and has very quick and mobility for a player of his size. He runs well on the floor and is a smooth athlete overall.
“He has a nice face-up game and can either dribble and break up the defender and enter the lane or find his mid-range jumper.
“He has good hops and is a powerful dunker, he is always a threat to backdoor arobs and putbacks.