Serving in Finnish military 'a great experience' for ex-Wildcat Lauri Markkanen

SAN ANTONIO — The Utah Jazz didn't make the NBA playoffs last season, so star forward Lauri Markkanen used the time off to get a head start on his civic duties as a Finland native: serving in the Finnish military. 

It's mandatory for male citizens in Finland to serve in the country's military before they turn 30 years old. Markkanen, the 26-year-old former Arizona Wildcat and Helsinki, Finland native, originally committed to serve during the summer of 2022, but his former team (Cleveland) was in contention for the Eastern Conference playoffs. 

For six months, Markkanen trained with other Finnish athletes, camped and learned how to disassemble guns, among other tasks. Finnish hockey players in the NHL and professional soccer players have also served.   

"It was fun to bond with them," Markkanen said. "We all had something to share and we're all athletes, some of them professionally overseas as well. Everyone had the same experience working as a team and that made things a lot easier." 

Utah Jazz head coach Will Hardy said, "Doing things like that keeps things in perspective." 

"Lauri is already a very humble person, but I don't know any NBA players that are serving in the military during the summer," Hardy said. "He sent me pictures of him sleeping in the tent in the woods, which I don't think is a typical NBA offseason.  But to be in those moments, he's not Lauri Markkanen, the NBA player; he's Lauri Markkanen, a 26-year-old Finnish guy, and he's with other Finnish guys serving in the military. It's good to keep it in perspective with the humanity of it all.

"These guys are propped up in ways that are unique and rightfully so in some ways, but then there's other ways where I think it's easy for us to forget that they're normal people in a lot of ways. So I think for him to do that in the summer, not that Lauri needed a reality check in any way, I think he came out of that thinking he did the right thing and did what everyone in his country does. He didn't use an out. He's told me plenty of stories and he had a good experience."

On the court, Markkanen is coming off a career year, where he received All-Star honors, joining Sean Elliott, Gilbert Arenas and Andre Iguodala as former Wildcats to play in the All-Star Game. The 7-foot stretch forward and former seventh overall pick averaged 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game in his sixth season in the NBA. He became the first player in NBA history to record 200 3-pointers and 100 dunks in a single season. 

This season, Markkanen is averaging 23.6 points and 8.4 rebounds per game for a Jazz team that is 12th in the Western Conference.

Hardy said he doesn't "know what position Lauri is still."

"He can play everything three through five," said Utah's head coach. "I don't think I saw him in college moving around as much as he does now. He was a little more stationary, setting a screen and popping and was in a smaller area. His game has grown a ton since he was in college. Obviously he was a high-level prospect and a very high NBA Draft pick, but now we're seeing him flaunt his athleticism a little bit. I don't think he gets the credit for the athlete that he is."

Before the UA football program's win over Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl, we caught up with Markkanen in San Antonio following his battle with rookie superstar Victor Wembenyama and the Spurs. Markkanen shined with 31 points and 12 rebounds in that 130-118 win at Frost Bank Center. 

Here's what Markkanen discussed:

How was the experience serving in the Finnish military? 

A: "It was a good experience. My offseason would've looked a little different if I didn't go in. It was a great experience and I think in the long run it will really help me emphasize that leadership role and being pushed and sometimes being uncomfortable but still managing being a part of the group. Obviously I know how to handle adversity on the basketball court. I've been playing basketball my whole life. I think it was a little different being with stuff I wasn't really familiar with and try to figure things out as a group when things get a little hard. In the long term, I think it was a great experience." 

What was the most humbling part of the Finnish military experience, and what kind of adversity did you face?

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A: "It wasn't anything crazy. You wake up in the middle of the night in the woods and the fire has gone out and it snowed in May, so you get out of the tent in your underwear and there's snow on the ground and you're a little cold and, 'We're still going to do stuff training-wise,' and there's no excuse with weather. It's not anything crazy, but little things like that made you uncomfortable in certain situations and learning things from (level) zero. Like, how to break down a gun, how to clean it. Things I've never done before, but it was cool to see how quickly I could learn stuff when you start from zero and do it every single day. You pick it up real quick and you can do it with your eyes closed."

Coach Hardy said you didn't need to be humbled by the experience; where does that stem from? 

A: "Just the way I was raised, I guess. I don't think I needed it humbling-wise, but it was a good experience of trying to figure things out when you're not at your best. I think having two older brothers, when you think you have something on them, usually you don't. Being the baby brother, always competing against the family, whether it was basketball or whatever." 

How do you reflect back on your one season at Arizona?

A: "It was a great time. It's played a part in where I am today. I really enjoyed my lone year there. I haven't gone back too many times, but obviously a different staff and teammates than when I played, but it's always fun going back." 

You still keep in contact with former UA coach Sean Miller?

A: "Obviously we're both busy with our own schedules, but we both text each other."

Fellow ex-Wildcat Jason Terry is on the Utah Jazz coaching staff; how has it been working with him?

A: "He's helped me a ton. Having that bond with him is really good. We went to Red-Blue Game last year. After practice, we took a flight and it was a good experience to hang out with him."

How has your game grown since becoming an NBA player?

A: "I think I'm just trying to be a complete basketball player, all-around. Obviously it's never going to be perfect, but I think it's a strength of mine, being able to play multiple positions. Obviously we have multiple guys that can do that and I think we've had a ton of lineups that we've tried out. ... It's a different look for the opponent and I'm really trying to work on every area of my game." 

What's the difference between adversity you faced in the military versus adversity in overcoming injuries between your previous stops with the Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls?

A: "At the time, I'm mature enough to stay mentally locked in and really try to get through that, whatever situation it is. Obviously injury-wise, it sucks to be out when your teammates are playing, but I think just staying locked in the moment is good."

What has the Utah Jazz chapter of your career meant to the growth of you as a player and person?

A: "It's been good. Obviously it did a lot for my career, having the organization, staff and teammates that I have, and I really like the place that we live in. It's been a really good experience this year and a half that we've spent in Salt Lake."