Lauri Markkanen enters the 2024-25 season as the centerpiece of the Utah Jazz, and he is looking to build on a strong campaign where he averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists over 55 games. Although Utah missed the playoffs in the ultra-competitive Western Conference last year, the franchise remains optimistic about its future with Markkanen at the forefront as they continue to rebuild following the departures of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.
Since arriving in 2022, Markkanen has become a key figure in the Utah community. Recently, he dropped the ceremonial puck at the Utah Hockey Club’s inaugural NHL game at the Delta Center, a milestone marking the NHL’s long-awaited arrival in the state. For the native of Finland, the occasion was especially meaningful, as hockey is the most popular sport in his homeland.
Basketball has been steadily growing in Finland, and Markkanen’s standout play has helped raise its profile. He’ll get the chance to play in front of his home crowd during EuroBasket 2025, with Tampere set to host one of the group stages. It’ll be a special moment for Finnish fans to watch him compete for the national team, further boosting the sport’s presence in the country.
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Markkanen reflected on the experience and shared his ambitions for the upcoming NBA season, while also looking ahead to Finland’s role as one of the host nations for EuroBasket 2025.
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Lauri Markkanen interview (Exclusive)
Q: Hockey is really big in Finland. What was it like being on the ice to celebrate the Utah Hockey Club’s first NHL game?
Lauri Markkanen: “Oh, it was fun! I felt like a little kid skating around an NHL arena. Hockey is a huge part of what we grew up with in Finland, so it was cool to experience that. It was really special to be there for the Utah Hockey Club’s first NHL game. There are a couple of Finnish guys on the team as well, so it was nice to connect with them. Now that the NHL is in Utah, we might even catch a few games when we have the time!”
Q: Your game has really thrived in Utah. The system under head coach Will Hardy seems to get the most out of your shooting and athleticism. What about it brings the best out of your skill-set given your catch-and-shoot ability, scoring, and athleticism?
Lauri Markkanen: “I’ve always learned basketball by focusing on moving without the ball and reading the defense. That’s one of my strengths—being able to make decisions based on how the defense reacts. It’s not just one-on-one or isolation basketball for me. With my size, athleticism, and ability to shoot, moving off the ball is a great fit for me. It keeps me involved in the game in different ways.”
Q: You’ve achieved a great deal of success in your career in Utah—already earning an All-Star appearance. Team success comes first, but do you have any goals for this season individually?
Lauri Markkanen: “Of course! You don’t want to just be a one-time All-Star. The goal is always to improve and show the new things you’ve been working on in your game. I’m always trying to take that next step in my development, but it all starts with team success. Everything else comes from there.”
Q: What are you looking forward to with EuroBasket next summer, with Finland being one of the host nations? How important will that be for the game of basketball?
Lauri Markkanen: “Yeah, EuroBasket is going to be huge, especially because we’re one of the host countries. My first men’s tournament was in 2017, and we hosted that one in Finland. Luka Dončić was part of that tournament too, which was pretty special. It went really well, and basketball has only grown since then. So this time, it’s going to be even bigger for us. Having the home crowd will be great, and I think it will do a lot of good for the overall growth of the game.”
