VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor's Eurovision) - When it seemed that half of Finland's population traveled to the north of Spain to watch their national team play at the FIBA Basketball World Cup seven years ago, we watched in admiration and heaped praise on all things blue and white because in the history of that competition, it was one of its finest hours.

It's always, ALWAYS, about the fans and Finnish supporters not only showed up in Bilbao to watch games but created an electric atmosphere. They also boosted the local economy.

Everyone knew about the Susijengi after that World Cup.

The Finnish invasion of Bilbao

Everyone should have known, too, that Finland assistant Lassi Tuovi was the head coach in waiting.  Henrik Dettmann, aka "Zen Master" as he's known in the country, the man that has held the national team reins since 2004, empowered him.

He let Tuovi call plays during timeouts as games hung in the balance. It was the ultimate show of trust and also belief in his apprentice. It's something that he has continued to do in the years that have followed.

It's a common sight, Tuovi drawing up plays for Finland during timeouts

Tuovi, 34, an assistant coach with Finland since 2010, is in his second year as head coach of French juggernauts SIG Strasbourg.

After this club season, Tuovi will have an additional head coaching job. He'll grab the helm of Finland. He will certainly lead the team when it plays at next year's FIBA EuroBasket, which is to be staged in the Czech Republic, Germany, Georgia and Italy, but could also coach the team in the third window of European Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. That will depend on SIG Strasbourg's season, and whether or not they first make the French post-season and then go on a deep run.

What's clear is that the Finns wanted to move forward with what they know, and that coach is Tuovi.

"In our operating conditions, continuity plays a remarkable part and Lassi’s nomination means that the process is moving onto its next phase under the supervision of a head coach who has already been a remarkable part of the team," said Ari Tammivaara, Basketball Finland's secretary general.

"THE MAJOR THING HENRIK IS ALWAYS FOCUSED ON IS THE QUALITY AND AMOUNT OF THE WORK DONE."

Tuovi's had the luxury of working with two excellent coaches in recent times. While he's had a longer spell with Dettmann, especially in the national team program, he also worked under Vincent Collet at Strasbourg before taking the helm of the team himself last season (Tuovi is under contract with SIG until the conclusion of the 2022-23 season).

Collet is the long-time coach of France who almost steered the team to victory over the USA in this past summer's Olympic Final.

Dettmann, though, is the coach Tuovi has learned from the most. The most important lesson learned from the sage - Dettmann also coached Germany and Dirk Nowitzki to third place at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2002 in Indianapolis - is to work, work and work!

"The major thing Henrik is always focused on is the quality and amount of the work done," Tuovi said. "If you want to do better than the guy next to you, you shouldn't be paying too much attention to the working hours. To put it bluntly, Susijengi will get a blue collar guy as the new head coach."

Dettmann, who is the supervisor of coaches at Basketball Finland, will actively support Tuovi after next summer yet will do so behind the scenes.

Tuovi gained valuable insight to coaching while working under Vincent Collet at SIG Strasbourg

The national team job will be Tuovi's rodeo.

Tuovi says he'll be "blunt and honest" in every way, with players, media, the federation. He wants the atmosphere around the program to remain "energetic" and "highly motivated."

He's optimistic that Finland, who have played at every FIBA EuroBasket since 2011, will not miss a beat.

"If we maintain our ability to develop and transform," he said, "we have all the reasons in the world to stay super optimistic."

Before then, Tuovi will look to claim honors in the Basketball Champions League and France, with Strasbourg.

The team is second in Group F in the BCL with a 2-2 record, and fifth in the French Betclic Elite, two wins behind league leaders Boulogne-Levallois, whose coach is Collet.

Jeff Taylor
FIBA

FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.

FIBA takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.