Lauri Markkanen’s father Pekka Markkanen is already planning a trip to the NBA All-Star Game.
Pekka Markkanen was overjoyed by his son’s historic achievement. LAURIE OLANDER
– It feels unreal. There are hundreds of millions of players in the world and Lauri was chosen among the world’s 24 best. That’s crazy, Dad Pekka Markkanen anneal.
According to various estimates, 400–450 million people around the world play basketball. About them Lauri Markkanen was selected as the first Nordic to the NBA all-star game.
The Finn did not fit into the starting five voted by the fans, but the coaches chose him as a substitute player. The information was confirmed at two o’clock Finnish time on Friday.
Pekka’s father found out about the great achievement at five in the morning.
– The squealing seems to have stopped, he describes his reaction.
Father couldn’t sleep because of his excitement.
– I didn’t wake up to follow the event live, when there was no channel from which I would have seen it. I did not sleep well. I woke up at a quarter to two, but went back to sleep.
– Shortly before five I looked to see what had happened.
Cold ring
Lauri Markkanen will play with the stars in February. ZUMawire/MVphotos
The father agonized over the choice for a long time. He didn’t dare vent until he saw black on white.
– It’s a bit empty after a couple of weeks of stressing out properly. I dared to trust the choice only this morning. I’m such a loathsome realist. I know from experience that things are not certain until they are certain.
– Now I believe too.
Pekka Markkanen’s phone has been ringing all morning.
It is known that selection for All Stars affects Markkanen’s career. It raises the mood even more.
– I haven’t been able to fully internalize everything that the choice means in the future. This affects Lauri’s appreciation within the team, but also potential contract negotiations. Absolutely insane feeling.
When Markkanen was aged C, the father came to praise his son’s talent. Then Pekka Markkanen reminded that no one can know if basketball will become the most important hobby for the offspring.
Not to mention the choice of stars.
– I said that we don’t know if Lauri will start playing the piano or do something else when he grows up. Let’s let the boy have hobbies and try different things. Fortunately, he seems to have found the right thing.
Markkanen’s name was not called until the second last of the event. The situation was already looking bad.
The boy told his father about the nerve-racking tension when the two exchanged messages on Friday morning.
– Paul George was behind Lauri in the fan vote, but he was elected. Lauri said that it gave a cold ring on the forehead. He thought, Is this how it will be again?
Markkanen’s family is currently planning a trip to the All-Star Game to be played on February 20. The hope is that the parents and all the siblings can make it to Salt Lake City.
– We can celebrate there if everything works out.