Finnish NBA star Markkanen rocks Finland's 4 Nations jersey

Big man shouts out homeland, Barkov with wardrobe choice before game Thursday

markkanen finland
By Dan O'Leary
@DanOLeary25 NHL.com Staff Writer

When your nickname is "The Finnisher," it's pretty obvious who you are rooting for in the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen, a native of Vantaa, Finland, rocked a white Finland jersey on his way into Delta Center for a game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday.

Finland played its first game of the 4 Nations Face-Off at Bell Centre on Thursday night against the United States.

Markkanen is the only active Finnish player in the NBA and only the third-ever in league history. He was an all-star and the league's Most Improved Player in 2023. The 7-foot, 240-pound forward played high school basketball at Helsinki Academy before attending the University of Arizona.

He chose the No. 16 white Finland jersey which belongs to forward Aleksander Barkov.

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