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20 November, 2017
26 February, 2019
23 Lauri Markkanen (FIN)
16/04/2018
News
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Finland star Markkanen to play in vital third window

HELSINKI (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Lauri Markkanen has announced he will jump into the fray of the World Cup Qualifiers with Finland to face the Czech Republic and Iceland this summer.

One of the sensations of FIBA EuroBasket 2017, Markkanen is coming off an outstanding rookie campaign in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls. He will provide a boost for a Susijengi side that has won two of its four qualifying games so far.

"(It will be) nice to get dressed again in the Finland shirt in front of the home crowd," said Markannen, who made his EuroBasket bow with Finland hosting Group Phase games last summer, to basket.fi.

"EuroBasket 2017 gave me life-long memories and now there's an opportunity to make new ones," he said.

Markkanen exploded onto the EuroBasket scene with 22 points in Finland's 86-84 overtime triumph against France on opening night.

Four months later in their World Cup Qualifier against the Czechs in Helsinki, Finland missed their 2.13m (7ft) center in a 64-56 defeat.

"The Czech Republic is a tough team," Markkanen said. "No wonder they're number one in the group. Iceland was really a tough game for us at last summer's European Championships."

Henrik Dettmann's Susijengi, with Markkanen's 23 points leading the way, beat Iceland 83-79 at the EuroBasket.

Iceland, however, came from behind on February 23 to defeat a Finland side that again did not have Markkanen in the first game of the second World Cup Qualifiers window, 81-76.

The expectation is that star duo Petteri Koponen and Sasu Salin will also be available for third window after missing the first four Qualifiers.

Markkanen (19.5ppg), Koponen (13.2ppg) and Salin (11.7ppg) were Finland's top three scorers at the EuroBasket, so the injection of one, two or all three would strengthen the national side as it attempts to get two vital wins.

Finland will also be eager to have Salin back in the line-up

Barcelona's Koponen and Unicaja Malaga's Salin squared off in Spain's Liga Endesa on Sunday. Koponen had 14 points but Salin, who hit 5 of 6 shots from long range and finished with 16 points, led Unicaja to an 80-78 home triumph.

"We are trying to get the whole gang in full swing in the summer, get two wins and continue the journey towards China," Markkanen said.

FIBA