Draymond GreenForward, Golden State Warriors

Lauri Markkanen on when the NBA became a realistic possibility #shorts #nba #utahjazz #jazz #sports

16 Mar 2023 · 1 min

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In a brief interview, Draymond Green asks Lauri Markkanen when he first saw the NBA as a realistic possibility. Markkanen explains that growing up in western Finland he only saw NBA highlights and aimed for the Finnish national team. After moving to Arizona for college, he was initially absent from mock drafts. Around January of his freshman year, his performance improved and his name began appearing in draft discussions, prompting the first genuine belief that the NBA was attainable. Although he originally envisioned a multi‑year college career, the season’s progression and a growing confidence led him to realize, just two months before the draft, that he could indeed make the jump to the NBA.

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Growing up in western Finland, at what point in your journey does it come to you that the NBA is a realistic goal?
Wasn't able to watch live NBA games growing up, and it was just all highlights, and so it doesn't really seem realistic. It's just so far away. My goal was to get to the national team level in Finland. The college sport opened for me, and once I got to Arizona, I still wasn't on any mock drafts or anything. I wasn't seeing my name anywhere. First couple months at Arizona, just started playing pretty well, and then my name starts popping up. Man, this might be a real possibility. That was the right— January, maybe. That's crazy. I was going for college. A lot of guys say that they knew I'm a one-and-done, but in my mind, I was going there to get better, and I thought I'm gonna be there multiple years. So I didn't think I was that close yet, but then season progressed and thought I have to take the leap. It really happened quickly in my mind. Keep worrying about every day and grinding it out, and then 2 months before the draft, you're like, "Oh, I can do this."