- Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen is in the middle of a career year.
- This offseason, Markkanen will return to his native Finland to serve a mandatory military term.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen will return to his native Finland this offseason in order to serve a mandatory term in the military.
Markkanen is in the middle of a career year with the Jazz, leading the team with a career-high 25.6 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game.
"It's mandatory, we have to do it, but at the same time we take pride in it, too," Markkanen told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. "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."
Markkanen, 25, had planned to do his service time last season, but was delayed after his then-team the Cavaliers made the playoffs. The Jazz have officially been eliminated from postseason contention with two games left to play in the regular season.
"Lauri has always said he was going to do this," his agent, Michael Lelchitski, told ESPN. "It's important for him as a citizen to fulfill his civic duty and not have any kind of preferential treatment just because he is a famous athlete."
Markkanen will be attending the Finnish Defence Forces Sports School, which aims to "train reconnaissance squads for emergency and wartime conditions," according to its website. The school also "enables sports training for talented athletes during conscript service."
"It is reasonable to train athletes for demanding military duties, taking advantage of the strengths and abilities that they already possess," the site reads.
While it won't be a regular offseason for Markkanen, he has faith that he'll still be able to get in the work he needs to be prepared to return to the NBA.
"Of course I'd rather be working out like I normally do [in the offseason], but I've heard they do a good job of combining the two," Markkanen told ESPN. "You're able to do your job working as an athlete and your basic training at the same time."