Lauri Markkanen continues to make history for Finland

Talking about how insane Lauri Markkanen has been in the EuroBasket tournament is basically beating a dead horse at this point. However, it's one thing for someone like the Utah Jazz star to dominate from start to finish in EuroBasket, but it's another for his play to get results. It has, as Markkanen's efforts have helped Finland make its first-ever semifinals in the EuroBasket.

Markkanen helped lead Finland past Georgia today, advancing them to the furthest point they have ever reached in the EuroBasket tournament.

While beating Nikola Jokic and Serbia itself in a historic upset was a big enough headline by itself (Finland's success against Serbia has been hard to come by), Finland's run is becoming worthwhile on top of all that.

Besides Markkanen, Finland has only had two other players in the country's history that has played in the NBA - which wasn't for long - so it makes sense that up until now, they haven't had much success in the EuroBasket tournament. Having Markkanen, an NBA All-Star who is right square in his prime, changes the game for them a lot.

And now, they get to push for a medal, which they have never had the chance to get in the past up until now.

Markkanen hasn't done this alone

While Markkanen is inarguably Finland's best player by virtue of being both an NBA star and the only NBA player to represent his home country, their latest victory has also come from all-around contributions from everyone in the rotation.

Besides Markkanen, who had a not-too-shabby 17 points, their other contributors included Mikael Jantunen (19 points), Sasu Salin (14 points and seven rebounds), Edon Maxhuni (15 points), and Miro Little (nine assists). While Markkanen might be their focal point, Finland couldn't simply depend on him.

All of their efforts have resulted in Finland going on its best EuroBasket run it has ever seen, and by a pretty fair margin too. The Jazz should take note of this. With the current plan being for Markkanen to stay for their next playoff run, Finland's success shows what can happen when a good team depends on Markkanen to lead them while showing them that they will need contributions from everyone else too.

That probably won't happen right away, as the Jazz's roster got younger this offseason, but Finland's run with Markkanen should give Utah hope in their belief that their best path forward is keeping Markkanen on the roster for when they become a playoff team again.

The real question will be how long that is going to take.