By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Finland suffered a massive blow in the hunt for a spot in the 2024 Olympic Games with Lauri Markkanen out of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Valencia.
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After an early conclusion to the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season with the Utah Jazz due to an injury in his right shoulder, he will sit out this summer’s international schedule, Basketball Finland updated his status on Monday.
“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.”
Between July 2 and 4, the Wolf Pack is scheduled to face the Bahamas and Poland in the preliminary round of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Host Spain, Angola, and Lebanon will battle for two berths out of Group A. After the Semifinals and the Final, the last country standing books a ticket to the Olympic Games, joining Group A with Australia, Canada, and the winner of the OQT in Greece.
“If the history of the national team counts, we are always at our best as underdogs,” noted head coach Lassi Tuovi, “We will miss Lauri, but basketball is a team sport. Even if a player is sidelined, the next player takes his place.”
With Finland among the hosts of the 2025 EuroBasket, Markkanen is projected to bounce back at the international level next summer. “Those dates are marked on my calendar,” he stressed.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL