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SALT LAKE CITY — Lauri Markkanen's golden curls are gone.
The Utah Jazz All-Star forward reported for military service in Finland earlier this week with a new doo and a new uniform.
Yle News, Finland's national public broadcasting company, was there to see Markkanen report to his service on Monday. Markkanen will be based at the Defence Forces' Sports School in Helsinki. The base trains reconnaissance squads for emergency and wartime conditions and also offers sports training for athletes undertaking military service.
"It's a new challenge," Markkanen said. "I'm going to go after it just like on the basketball court. I'm going to try to give them everything I've got every day and I know everything is going to be fine. I'm excited."
Military service is mandatory for all Finnish males; citizens must serve before they turn 30.
Lauri Markkanen is fulfilling his mandatory military service in Finland. 👀 pic.twitter.com/6Uq44cm2ex
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 19, 2023
Even now, though, it's still not known how long Markkanen, who will turn 26 next month, will be in service.
"Typically, service is up to six months," Markkanen's agent Michael Lelchitski told CNN. "It is still to be determined exactly how and where Lauri will complete his service, as he will be representing Finland in the upcoming FIBA World Cup this summer and, of course, the Utah Jazz in the upcoming 2023-24 season."
Markkanen averaged 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds this season. Last week, he was named a finalist for the NBA's Most Improved Player award.
Oh, and for his now gone wavy hair? He reassured fans on Instagram that he'd grow those back.
