HELSINKI (Tribune News Service) — NBA All-Star player Lauri Markkanen reported for military service Monday in his home country Finland.

Markkanen, 25, is coming off an impressive season with the Utah Jazz, where he earned his first All-Star selection while averaging a career-high 25.6 points per game. This was Markkanen’s first season with the Jazz after being traded by the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he played during the 2021-22 season, as part of the Donovan Mitchell trade.

The 7-foot forward said he’s “excited” for his military service, which is mandatory in Finland. All Finnish men, after turning 18, are required to complete military training before they turn 30, but also can opt for civilian service instead, according to Finnish news outlet Yle News.

“I’m excited, it’s something that I’ve never done and I’m sure I’m going to learn a lot,” Markkanen told Yle News. “Obviously it’s a new challenge that I’m going to go after here, just like on the basketball court. I’ll try to give it everything I got and I know everything’s going to be fine.”

Markannen posted a photo earlier this week of his newly-shaved head before he reported to the Finnish Defense Forces base in southern Helsinki.

“Curls will be back,” Markkanen said in his Instagram post.

And while Markkanen is looking forward to his Finnish military service, he also reassured fans it wouldn’t impact his preparation for next NBA season. His military service is expected to last 165 days, according to Yle News.

“It’s mandatory, we have to do it, but at the same time we take pride in it, too,” Markkanen told ESPN. “I think it sets an example to serve. And I’m confident I can do it in a way that it’s not going to affect my preparation for next season, either.”

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