If you're wondering how Finland reached the EuroBasket semifinals, think twice before just looking at their roster. In terms of recognizable names, you can find only Lauri Markkanen .
The truth is, Markkanen isn't a first-tier NBA superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Luka Doncic , who are still in the tournament, but he has always been a dominant figure in FIBA competitions, as confirmed by his numbers from this tournament where he is averaging 24.7 points and 7.9 rebounds on 44.0 percent from the field.
But Finland isn't just Markkanen and while he may not stand out statistically, there's a talented name in their roster – Miikka Muurinen, who at just 18 years old has already made an impact in this tournament with several spectacular plays.
Muurinen was especially impressive against Serbia, scoring nine points in only 12 minutes of play, highlighted by two three-pointers over Nikola Jokic deep in the fourth quarter, showing incredible composure for a player who just turned 18. ESPN's Brian Windhorst tells the story of Muurinen, who is already drawing attention from top NCAA programs.
"I've been advised by scouts that he's going to go play in college next year. He's still two years away from the draft, I think, unless there's reclassifications," he said on The Hoop Collective . "I can't keep track of this. Miikka Muurinen is going to be a top recruit. There are a bunch of teams that are trying to get him."
"But anyway, Muurinen is a guy to be paid attention to for sure coming out of this Bontemps," Windhorst added. "And I don't know if you got to see them play at all, but definitely someone to keep in the back of your mind. Luka was 17 when he arrived and no one's comparing him to Luka, but Luka was 17 years old when he really started the momentum of Luka to the NBA."
He debuted for Finland last year at just 17 years old in the Olympic qualifiers and impressed coach Lassi Touvi. He already stands at 6'11" inches and has offers from seven prestigious colleges in the USA, reportedly over 20 in total.
He is estimated to potentially earn more than 10,9 million dollars per year.
According to the latest information, his wingspan is estimated at around 7'2" inches with the tendency to grow further as he's still developing.
But when we watch how easily he moves on the court, how fast and coordinated he is for his height and how effortlessly he soars through air, it becomes clear why hype around Muurinen has already emerged, even though he is averaging only 6.0 points at this EuroBasket.
His body language shows a high level of confidence, as he had no problem guarding Jokic or attacking him directly with the game on the line. Muurinen even used a few scrappy moves to provoke the veterans from the Serbian NT to the point that they completely lost their composure in crunch time.
That level of confidence competing against names who have won at the highest level is truly impressive and Windhorst's comparison to Doncic holds weight. Although they are completely different types of players, Muurinen is likely headed straight to the NCAA and it's very possible we could see a new European superstar in the league.
So don't be surprised if you start seeing Finland more often in the finals of FIBA tournaments, because the Markkanen-Muurinen duo could really become a force to be reckoned with.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Sep 11, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
