Lauri Markkanen took no time at all to re-establish that he is, in fact, quite the basketball player in EuroBasket. Following a dominant performance against Belgium, Markkanen did it again in Finland's second friendly matchup, proving that the Utah Jazz should be in for a resurgent season from their star.
Following a 48-point performance against Belgium, Markkanen put up a 31-point performance in Finland's second friendly matchup against the same opponent. His statline read as follows: 31 points on four three-pointers, 11 free throws, and five rebounds.
Lauri Markkanen drops another cool 31 points vs Belgium in EuroBasket Prep Games
— Jazz Lead (@JazzLead) August 11, 2025
He’s so freaking good 🔥 pic.twitter.com/tKDjSuUnfJ
It may not have been as dominant as his first performance, but it's still more of the same. It's yet another reminder of the player Markkanen is when there's nothing holding him back. It also serves as proof that Utah should anticipate a resurgence in full this coming season.
Markkanen is coming off an underwhelming Year 3 in Utah, but many have hustifiably pointed to the Jazz going all-in on the tank for why Markkanen didn't put up the same numbers he did in his first two years as a Jazzman.
His disappointing season with the Jazz has bred skepticism as to whether he can play that level again. His playing like a man among boys during Finland's first two EuroBasket friendlies serves as pretty concrete proof that last year's performance was the exception, not the norm.
This could work for the Jazz on a few conditions
Markkanen returning to form next season could work as long as it A. makes the Jazz more entertaining than they were last season and B. as long as it doesn't mess with their tanking aspirations.
While some may think that Markkanen looking like a star again could spell trouble for Utah and their inevitable tank, what works for them is that pretty much everyone in the West is trying to make the playoffs. The Jazz can afford to let Markkanen put on a show and still lose as many games a possible.
Watching teams lose isn't necessarily fun, but watching reams genuinely try only to lose is still something fans can watch. That's what Utah hopes to get this season. One where they still lose as much as possible but still give their fans their money's worth in the process.
Fans may have understood the vision last year, but that didn't make the season any easier to watch. How they handled Markkanen played a role in that, but with Utah not planning to do the same and Markkanen showing he hasn't slowed down one bit, seeing him look like his old self again is music to Jazz fan's ears.
No pun intended.