Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen Comments on Mandatory Military Service

Lauri Markkanen has a busy summer ahead of him.

Utah Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen loves his native country of Finland, even its conscription program requiring males of 18-plus years to serve in the military. Markkanen, who officially reported for his mandatory military service in Finland this week, takes pride in the opportunity. 

"It's mandatory,” Markkanen said via ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne. “We have to do it, but at the same time, we take pride in it, too. I think it sets an example to serve. And I'm confident I can do it in a way that it's not going to affect my preparation for next season, either."

Gone are Markkanen's blond curls, though he vows they'll be back. He's now rocking the military buzz cut. 

Private Markkanen reporting for duty. #Finnisher started his military service today. 🇫🇮 #Susijengi @utahjazz pic.twitter.com/c2yedkAcSt

— Basketball Finland (@basketfinland) April 17, 2023

After recently joining NATO, in the face of Russia's looming threat — a country with whom Finland shares 800 miles of border — it's a nation that needs to keep its blades sharp, so to speak. 

With the Jazz missing the playoffs, Markkanen finally pulled the trigger on his military service to Finland. And he does so with no small amount of triumph.

In Year 1 with the Jazz, Markkanen earned his first All-Star nod, averaging a career-high 25.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. The former No. 7 overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft, he's just 25 years old and still has two years left on the contract Utah acquired via Cleveland in the Donovan Mitchell trade. 

Markkanen is set to earn $17.259 million in 2023-24. 

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