The NBA season will soon be over and then Lauri Markkanen will board a flight to Finland. In mid-April, he begins his military service. It is something that must be done, he tells Yle.
An injured Lauri Markkanen saw the Utah Jazz lose tonight’s fateful game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Utah needed to win to continue to have a chance to go to the playoffs, but the team lost clearly 98–114.
This means that Markkanen’s and Utah’s season ends during the Easter weekend when the last regular season games are played.
Markkanen has had the best NBA season of his career, but it wasn’t enough as Utah now misses the playoffs for the first time in seven years.
And the Finn doesn’t have time to think too much about how the season has turned out – he will soon board a flight to Finland and do his military service.
With a high probability, he will put on the terrain uniform M05, also called the defense force’s cucumber salad, on April 17 when he moves into the defense force’s sports school.
Markkanen has previously told North American media that he takes great pride in enlisting in the army.
– You set an example and I am sure that I can do it in a way that does not affect the preparations for next season, he says according to ESPN.
Markkanen also tells Yle that the coming time in the army gives him something else to think about than just sports.
– We’ll see how it goes, but it’s something that has to be done. In this way, it feels good that after the season I can focus on something other than basketball, he says.
Markkanen has had the best season of his career in the NBA.
Bild: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports/All Over Press
Lauri Markkanen
Deferred service in the past
Markkanen has applied for a postponement of his military service several times before. The first time was in 2016 when he went over to North America to play in the university series.
He planned to move in last year but it was postponed when his then club Cleveland Cavaliers went to the playoff qualifiers.
– Lauri has always said that he will complete his military service. It is important for him to do his civic duty. He doesn’t want special treatment just because he’s a famous athlete, agent Michael Lelchitski told ESPN.
Exactly how long Markkanen’s service period will be is not clear and he will be able to count a number of days in command.
The summer training may not be quite at the same level as before, and while Markkanen is doing his military service, Finland must also prepare for the WC which will be played in August and September. Markkanen will be the team’s most important player in that tournament.
– As a professional athlete, you always strive to develop. Even if I have my military service, it won’t change anything and the goal is to constantly get better, says Markkanen.
The article is a translation and adaptation of Yle Urheiluis text Lauri Markkanen told Yle Urheiluis what he thinks about conscript service: “Gets thoughts elsewhere”made by Emma Hyyppä and Antti-Jussi Sipilä.
