While the Jazz are almost eliminated from the race for the play-in tournament, some Utah players are already preparing for the offseason. This is the case of Lauri Markkanen, who should take advantage of this free time to do her military service!
Jazz star this season and major candidate in the race for the Most Improved Player, Lauri Markkanen should, unless surprised, see his season end by the weekend. Unless there is a huge coincidence, Utah will not participate in the Playoffs. Enough to ensure the blond a long vacation until the start of the school year in October. Holidays ? Not really, sinceESPN teaches us today that the All-Star 2023 will take advantage of the next few months to fulfill one of his civic duties. If in France military service is no longer compulsory, it is not the same in Finland.
Every man must do his military service before he turns 30. We are talking about a passage under the flag which lasts between 6 and 12 months. A tradition that does not seem to bother the player, who can associate this duty with his preparations for next season. Comments reported by Ramona Shelburne fromESPN.
“It’s mandatory, we have to do it, but at the same time we’re proud of it. I think this is an example to follow. And I’m sure I can do it in a way that it won’t affect my preparation for next season either. […]
“Of course I would prefer to train like I normally do [pendant l’intersaison], but I heard they combine the two well. You can do your job as an athlete and your basic training at the same time.”
It remains to be seen how this obligation will also be organized because with six months on Finnish territory, it would amount to a return to the US just before the start of the next regular season. What about training camp or preparation matches? It should also not be forgotten that the player has already declared that he is hot to play the 2023 World Cup in Japan and the Phillipines next August. Extraordinary at the last EuroBasket, the Finn intends to lead his country as far as possible in the competition. Suffice to say that the holidays are not really on the menu for Lauri Markkanen.
Source texte : ESPN