Although the Utah Jazz aren’t that competitive in the NBA right now, forward Lauri Markkanen remains a bright spot in their roster due to the impact he’s bringing on both ends of the court. Unfortunately, he won’t be bringing his talents to the Olympic qualifiers as part of Finland’s national team because of a persistent injury to his right shoulder.
Just recently, Basketball Finland announced the Jazz star’s absence from the tournament, dealing a significant blow to Finland’s hope of securing a spot in the 2024 Olympics. In turn, Markkanen expressed his disappointment while still hoping to contribute to the team’s journey to Paris.
The Olympic Qualifying Tournament is set to take place from July 2 to 4 in Spain and will feature Finland going up against Poland and the Bahamas in the preliminary round. The top two teams from Group A, which includes Lebanon, Angola, and Spain, will advance to the semifinals and fight for a spot in the Olympics.
Despite the Jazz All-Star‘s absence, head coach Lassi Tuovi remains optimistic about Finland’s chances in the qualifying tournament. He added that the team is still determined to step up and fill the void left by Markkanen
Utah Jazz Star Lauri Markkanen’s Post-2024 Paris Olympic Plans
Not playing for Finland certainly stings for the Utah Jazz forward. Markkanen expressed that feeling in an article written by Johnny Askounis for Eurohoops.
“Certainly, this is tough,” confessed Markkanen, “Representing Finland and playing for the national team is an honor for me. Along with my teammates, we have been talking all season about how sweet it would be to advance to the Olympic Games,” Askounis wrote.
As it stands, Markkanen still has one year left in his contract with Utah. This makes him a trade target for most competing teams in the NBA as a floor-spacing forward will come in handy for the next playoffs.
Finland is scheduled to host EuroBasket in 2025. Hopefully by then, Markkanen will be in great shape to help his country win big in that tournament.
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