Serbia and Nikola Jokic were the overwhelming favorites in EuroBasket 2025 and it should be understandable why. They are the favorites but too bad for them, they run across Finland, Lauri Markkanen, and Miikka Muurinen in the Round of 16, leaving their hopes ultimately dashed.
Markkanen is Finland’s best player but he is not doing it alone. It is impossible going up against a team like Serbia that has a player that won the MVP award three times in the last four years.
THE FINNISH WOLVES ARE HOWLING TONIGHT 🐺 Name a bigger upset in #EuroBasket history 🫣
🇫🇮 Lauri Markkanen 29 PTS | 8 REB | 26 EFF pic.twitter.com/uExjpYfWu0
— BasketNews (@BasketNews_com) September 6, 2025
The Utah Jazz star scored 29 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out three assists in the game to give his team the 92-86 win over Serbia who haven’t won the league in their history. They are now waiting for the winners of the France-Georgia match in the quarterfinals.
EUROBASKET >>> ANYTHING ELSE
FINLAND STUN FAVORITES SERBIA & ADVANCE TO THE QUARTER-FINALS! pic.twitter.com/JW9aL0cNSf
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 6, 2025
“Amazing night. What can I say. We just believed in each other today and just made it happen. You have to shoot the ball when you are open. A couple of looks came to me, they left me open, so I just stepped up and shot with confidence,” Finland’s shooting Elias Valtonen said after the game.
Jokic had 33 points and eight rebounds in the loss.
Miikka Muurinen is a revelation in the tourney
Markkanen rightfully gets the praises but there’s another player that is putting Finland in the basketball map.
Muurinen is not in the NBA yet but he is making everyone in America excited with his flashy plays and athleticism in the EuroBasket.
Miikka Muurinen’s upside might be the biggest takeaway from this year’s EuroBasket. Crazy combination of size, athleticism and poise for an 18-year old.
— Andy Bailey (@AndrewDBailey) September 6, 2025
🇫🇮 I told you about Miikka Muurinen before the #EuroBasket 2025. 2007-born 6’10” crazy prospect dropped 9 PTS (7 in 4Q) in just 12 MIN against favorite Serbia in win or go home game. The fact that he’ll still be in high school next year is insane. Clear NBA lottery prospect. https://t.co/4HWpMbxesl pic.twitter.com/iSCfS5ZmPF
— Can Peker Pekcan (@canpekerpekcan) September 6, 2025
His dunk in the group stage is already a Dunk of the Tournament candidate.
Remember the name – Miikka Muurinen 🇫🇮 is the youngest star of #EuroBasket 🌟 pic.twitter.com/UFPacAGgUh
— FIBA Basketball (@FIBA) September 1, 2025
Against Serbia, he hit a timely shot that broke the heart of their fans.
MIIKKA MUURINEN. REMEMBER THE NAME.#EuroBasket pic.twitter.com/PSVwUqKlHK
— FIBA EuroBasket (@EuroBasket) September 6, 2025
Muurinen is the youngest player in EuroBasket 2025 at 18 years old.
It should take no time before he gets acknowledged all over America as he has been there since 2023. He enrolled at the Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas on that year but moved to AZ Compass Prep high school in Chandler this June to become part of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL).
It is still unknown which team he will play for in college but he already offers from to programs like North Carolina, Duke, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, and the University of Connecticut.
For the latest Basketball Content
Make sure you are always updated on your favorite basketball players and teams. Follow us @HardwoodHeroics for the latest and trending news about NBA, college basketball, and more. Stay updated by reading more of our NBA articles by clicking here and college basketball by clicking here!
