Utah Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen to serve mandatory military duties in Finland
Utah Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen will carry out his mandatory service in the Finnish military during this offseason.
Markkanen, 25, grew up in Jyväskylä, Finland, before moving to the United States to join the University of Arizona's basketball team in 2016. In Finland, male citizens are required to fulfill their mandatory service by age 30, a duty citizens "take pride in."
"It's mandatory, we have to do it, but at the same time we take pride in it, too," Markkanen told ESPN. "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."
According to ESPN and The Athletic, Markkanen will start his service later this month if the Jazz miss the playoffs. If they make it to the postseason, then Markkanen would start his service in July. (Utah enters Thursday night in 12th place in the Western Conference.)
Markkanen is having a breakout season for the Jazz, averaging a career-high 25.6 points and 1.9 assists, as well as 8.6 rebounds, per game to earn his first All-Star selection.
He was drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the No. 7 pick in the 2017 NBA draft. After four seasons with the Bulls, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers for one season before finding a home with the Jazz in September.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lauri Markkanen to serve mandatory military duties in Finland
