HELSINKI (Finland) - Lauri Markkanen and Finland head into FIBA EuroBasket 2022 next month with the tough task of trying to live up to their heroics from five years previously.

The Wolfpack, as the Finnish national team is affectionately known, were the surprise package of FIBA EuroBasket 2017 as they stunned France in overtime on the opening day in Helsinki before backing that up with victory over Greece a few days later as they would reach the Round of 16.

Five years is a long time in basketball and a lot has changed, but Markkanen remains the leading light and is upbeat about Finland's chances at the upcoming major tournament.

"WE ARE HUNGRY FOR WINS AND HUNGRY TO KEEP GETTING BETTER AND BETTER."

"We have a great team, we have talent and we learn fast," Markkanen told FIBA.basketball. "We also have more experience than 5 years ago, and the group of players is a great mix of veterans and young guys coming up and wanting to help the national team.

"We are in a fantastic dynamic and we want to keep it going for a long time, so I think we can do great in the coming EuroBasket. We will take it one step at a time, try to get a great record in the Group Phase and go to the knockout stages full of ambition and energy in order to go far in the competition. We are hungry for wins, hungry to keep getting better and better." 

Markkanen put on a show at the Final Round in 2017 after finishing the tournament with averages of 19.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. It was a summer to remember for the Vantaa native having also been selected in the first round of the NBA Draft by Chicago Bulls.

The towering forward showcased his all-round skillset at EuroBasket with four games with at least 20 points including a 27-point outing in the double overtime triumph against Poland - creating fond memories on home soil.

"It was my first tournament at senior level, I won't ever forget about it," he declared. "We played the group phase at home, and it was fantastic, a unique moment. We were able to beat a powerhouses like France and Greece, and I was really enjoying the games in Helsinki.

"We gained a lot of experience during this tournament, and we learned a lot, which has been helping us since as we get better and better every year. We did lose against Italy in the knockout stage, it was disappointing but we will come back this year to do better, that is our goal."

While they won't be playing at home this time around, Markkanen is still counting on significant support for the team as the traveling crowd look to make their voices heard as Finland head to Prague, Czech Republic for the Group Phase.

"Our fan base is so amazing, that support feels fantastic and that gives us an extra boost, that is for sure.  A lot of fans show up wherever we play and I am sure thousands of them are also, like us, counting the days for the start of EuroBasket. That support is such an honor, it's something that we embrace and love," he said.

"We share great experiences with the fans and we want to win to make them even more proud of us and of the national team. When we play in front of our fans, the atmosphere is unique, the unity is beautiful."

Markkanen returned to national team duty during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers and helped Finland clinch their spot in the Second Round, whilst eliminating Croatia with a game-winning three-pointer on Gameday 6.

It was mission accomplished for Susijengi as they finished with a 5-1 record to take into the next phase and continue their pursuit of making a second-ever appearance at the World Cup with important games against Israel and Estonia later this month.

"I was so happy to be back with the national team, it has been so long since I last played an official game with my country, and I always feel happy to wear that jersey," reflected Markkanen.

"We are a group of friends, a family, we are brothers that want to make Finnish basketball the most competitive possible. I always play hard and give 100-percent, and I was very happy with being here and to help get those two wins. I am looking forward for the next window and for EuroBasket, that is for sure."

The addition of Markkanen in the ranks comes as a huge boost for Finland and their hopes of another successful run at EuroBasket. Still only 25, but Markkanen now has five years of experience playing in the NBA under his belt with his presence invaluable for the group.

The burden of responsibility is one he relishes; taking on a leadership role and helping some of the more inexperienced players in the team that are still coming through on the international stage.

"I like to have responsibilities," Markkanen puts simply. "I don’t shy away from them, I know that people count on me a lot, and I am going to keep giving my best for the national team. In 2017, not a lot of people knew about me and my game, but now, everybody knows who I am and what I can do on the court.

"I improved, I am more physical than I was before, I was only 20 years old. Now, I know that the opponents will do their best to slow me down or defend with two or three guys on me, but I am ready for the challenges. I like challenges and I want to be, alongside my teammates, at the top of my game for the tournament.

"We are all ready for what is coming, all of us, united and ready to play hard and give our best to win."

Watch out Europe - Markkanen and Finland are coming again.

FIBA