Finland‘s run at 2025 EuroBasket has been a great one so far, with two wins against Great Britain and Sweden, good enough for third place on Group B, just behind powerhouses Lithuania and Germany.
Utah Jazz forward/center Lauri Markkanen is the leader of a Finnish team that’s looking better with each game they played against European nations. Of course it helps that Finland co-hosts the tournament, with the home crowd cheering them on.
While nations like Germany, Serbia, France, Greece, Italy or Belgium have an edge over young teams like Finland, but Markkanen‘s abiity to change games in the NBA have had a smooth transition on the European tournament, something that give his nation hope for the future.
The best dunk of the tournament
At just 18 years old, flashy forward Miikka Muurinen, the youngest player at EuroBasket 2025, has already stolen the spotlight. The 6’11 Finnish talent made headlines with a jaw-dropping play against Great Britain that made the whole arena jump out of excitement.
Receiving the ball from veteran point guard Sasu Salin, Muurinen took flight and delivered a thunderous dunk packed with power and athleticism. The monster play instantly became a candidate for the best dunk of the entire competition.
Nicknamed “Slim Jesus,” Muurinen played at Arizona Compass Prep and is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Finland. With his confidence and skill, he’s shaping up to be an exciting NBA prospect if he keeps this level of performance.
Markkanen explodes against Great Britain
Lauri Markkanen exploded for his second 40+ point game at FIBA EuroBasket with a dominant display against Great Britain. The NBA star went off for 29 points in the first half alone before finishing with 43 points to further cement his name in the competition’s record books.
Markkanen matched his previous best of 43 points at EuroBasket that was set in the last edition in 2022 after going off against Croatia in the Round of 16. The 28-year-old fired in a national team career-high of 48 points during the preparation period in a win over Poland, and has continued his red-hot form at the Final Round in Tampere.
Read the full article here
