SALT LAKE CITY — Because of a nagging shoulder ailment, Utah Jazz All-Star Lauri Markkanen will not be playing for his home country of Finland in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Markkanen had what the team described as a right shoulder impingement, missing 17 of the Jazz’s final 21 regular season games in 2023–2024.
The first week of July will see Valencia, Spain host the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Finland suffered a serious setback in their hopes of qualifying for the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 as a result of Markkanen’s absence.
In Group A of the Summer Olympics, host Spain, Finland, Lebanon, Angola, Poland, and the Bahamas will compete for the one available berth.
“This is definitely difficult,” Markkanen stated in a statement that eurohoops.net translated. It is a privilege for me to play for the national team and represent Finland. My teammates and I have been discussing how wonderful it would be to qualify for the Olympics throughout the entire season.
Greece, Australia, and highly regarded Canada await the last Group A Olympic qualifier.
Markkanen that he anticipated receiving permission to appear in court again in August.
In his second season with the Jazz, the forward averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while shooting 39 percent from three-point range and 48 percent from the field.
This summer, Markkanen will be able to negotiate a contract extension with the organization.
July 27 marks the start of the Olympic Basketball Tournament, which ends on August 11.
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