Finland

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Ryan Kostecka

As if 2023 wasn't a good enough year for Lauri Markannen, he can now add one more accolade to his growing list.&nbsp;

Markkanen has been named Finland's 2023 Athlete of the Year.&nbsp;

“It was really cool,” Markkanen said about winning. “It’s a really prestigious award in Finnish sports. Not a lot of team sport athletes have gotten it. … Just knowing what kind of athletes from across all the sports that Finland produces, just being on the list makes it more meaningful.”

He became the first basketball player to receive the award and the fifth team sport athlete to win.&nbsp;

The most prestigious sports award in the country, the Association of Sports Journalists (Finland), has been awarded the title of Athlete of the Year since 1947. A shortlist of 10 names is compiled, and association members with a press card can vote. Of the 5.5 million people in the country, it's estimated that 1 million of them tuned into the Finnish Sports Gala on television.

Markkanen received 1,998 votes and 126 first-place votes. Pole vaulter Wilma Murto was second in the voting with 1,879 votes (48 first-place votes), while rally driver Kalle Rovanperä was third with 1,645 votes (29 first-place votes).&nbsp;

Markkanen couldn't attend the gala due to the NBA season, so his parents, Pekka and Riikka, were in attendance for him. Pekka and Riikka were both professional basketball players — with Pekka being named the Finnish Basketball Player of the Year in 1989, 1993, and 1996. He also has two brothers, both of whom are professional athletes. Miikka is a former professional basketball player, while Eero is a professional soccer player.

“Obviously I kind of hoped that I could’ve been there with them (his parents), but I’ll take what I can get,” Markkanen said. “I’m just trying to make the family proud. It was a big moment for me to see them over there and kind of see them. … I was impressed with how emotional my dad looked, I haven’t seen that too often.”

"I know this morning, getting that award meant a lot to him," Utah head coach Will Hardy said Thursday. "It was cool to be here to see it and share that moment with him a little bit. He's the same person he was when he got here at the beginning of last year in terms of his humility and how he carries himself every day."

"Next, I've got to try to figure out a way to get to Finland."

The Jyväskylä native has been a revelation for the Jazz since the organization received him in a trade with Cleveland in September 2022. Since that moment, all he's done is emerge as one of the best forwards in the NBA and the leader of a Jazz team many believe to be ahead of schedule when it comes to the rebuild that started last year.&nbsp;

The seventh-year forward had a breakout season last year, being named to his first All-Star game and then chosen as a starter. He also won the NBA's Most Improved Player of the Year award.

As Utah's No. 1 option last season, he averaged career-highs in points (25.6), shot attempts (17.3), field goal percentage (49.9%), free throw percentage (87.5%), assists (1.9), and minutes (34.4). He also averaged 8.6 rebounds per game, 39.2% from three, and 58.6% effective field goal percentage, all the second-most in his career. He also became the first player in league history to have 200 threes and 100 dunks in a season.

He's continued his meteoric rise this year, proving that last season was no fluke after averaging 23.6 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. Despite dealing with numerous injuries and being the focal point of every opponent's scouting report, Markkanen shoots 48.8% from the floor, 38.6% from three, and 86.7% from the free throw line.&nbsp;

Against Denver on Oct. 30, Markkanen became the NBA's all-time leader for most career games by a 7-footer with at least five made threes. He's done so 39 times in his career and 18 times in a Jazz uniform — six times this season.

“I didn’t know I was going to win until I was able to connect the dots,” Markkanen said. “I think overall it was between three athletes, so I wasn’t really sure. … I was hoping for it, but I was happy it happened this year.”

"I'm really happy for him," Hardy said. "Their country is very proud of Lauri, and they should be. We're very proud of Lauri. He's had a heck of a last 15, 16 months. ... I'm just really pleased with how he handles himself every day."

Apart from starring in the NBA, Markkanen has also been the star of Finland's National Team. He helped lead the team to a 2-3 finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup this past summer, finishing third in scoring at 24.8 points per game.

"I'm not satisfied," Markkanen said. "I have high expectations for myself and try to reach them every night, trying to help the team that way. … I'm just trying to do whatever I can."

"I don't know what the ceiling is on Lauri. … I don't think any of us do, but I'm pretty sure we haven't seen it yet," Hardy added. 

To vote Markkanen as a 2024 NBA All-Star, click HERE

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"A Really Prestigious Award" — Markkanen Named Finland's 2023 Athlete of the Year

With the FIBA World Cup heading to the quarterfinals and just eight teams remaining, three members of the Utah Jazz are still alive in their quest to take home a medal at the prestigious world tournament.&nbsp;

Walker Kessler and Simone Fontecchio have advanced to the world's version of the "Elite Eight" but will face one another on Tuesday morning, with the winner advancing and the loser going home. After a shocking loss two days ago, Kelly Olynyk and Canada rebounded with a win over the world's No. 1 team to stay alive in the tournament.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the World Cup has officially come to an end for Jordan Clarkson and Lauri Markkanen — doing so on very high notes for both players and their respective teams. 

PHILIPPINES 92 | China 73Being one of the host nations of the tournament in the basketball-crazed country of the Philippines, the pressure was on Gilas Pilipinas before the opening tip just under two weeks ago. And as the star of the team — and the only NBA player — that pressure was magnified for Clarkson. 

While he largely lived up to the hype and pressure individually, Clarkson gave his fans one last hurrah. He led the Philippines to their first tournament victory, doing so emphatically in one of the best offensive performances seen in a long time.&nbsp;

Trailing by two midway through the third quarter, Clarkson showed why he earned the nickname "Flamethrower" when he scored 22 over the final six minutes. That capped a 27-3 as Gilas Pilipinas flipped the game on its head and cruised to their first victory.&nbsp;

Clarkson finished with 34 points, three assists, and two rebounds, his highest-scoring game of the tourney. He averaged 26 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game. The Philippines will now get ready for qualification games ahead of next year's 2024 Tokyo Summer Olympics.&nbsp;

"I feel like this whole World Cup I really haven't been able to get free and get into a super crazy rhythm just because how defenses were playing and stuff like that," Clarkson said postgame. "But I just continued to stay with it. … My teammates found me, got me open, I just made shots. It was great."

FINLAND 90 | Venezuela 75With Clarkson leading the tournament in scoring — through games as of Sunday morning — after his massive scoring outburst, he overtook his Jazz teammate for the honor. While Markkanen remained Finland's best player, he reminded everybody why he's considered one of the better players in the world after another sensational tournament. 

After getting off to a slow start and trailing by four entering the second quarter, Markkanen sparked the turnaround as the Susijengi reeled off a 10-2 run. They continued to shine the rest of the quarter, eventually taking a 13-point lead at the break.&nbsp;

Venezuela answered with a solid third, cutting the deficit to five entering the final 10 minutes. But Markkanen was once again the answer, knocking down a three to kickstart a 14-3 run after Venezuela cut the deficit to six. Finland then cruised to win, finishing the tournament 2-3.&nbsp;

Markkanen finished with 32 points and nine rebounds, averaging 24.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game throughout the tournament.&nbsp;

ITALY 73 | Puerto Rico 57Italy will be heading to the World Cup's quarterfinals for the first time in 25 years. While it wasn't his greatest shooting performance of the tournament, Fontecchio got things done on both ends of the court by finishing with his first double-double of the tournament — and it couldn't have come at a better time.

It was a game of runs throughout, with Italy serving the first blow. The Italians used an early 15-0 run to take an 11-point lead early on, but Puerto Rico never gave up. They battled back to take a 43-41 lead in the third quarter. However, Italy answered with a 16-4 run for the 10-point advantage midway through the fourth, capping off the victory.&nbsp;

Fontecchio finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds in the win. Italy will now face Kessler and Team USA in the quarterfinals.&nbsp;

Lithuania 110 | UNITED STATES 104Despite opting to play small and fast throughout the tournament, Team USA knew it was in for a battle on Sunday morning against a massive Lithuania team. Lithuania's size and strength were too much for the Americans to overcome as they suffered their first loss of the tournament. 

Despite the thrilling second half, the first was one Team USA will want to forget. They were overwhelmed by Lithuania on both ends of the court and trailed by as many as 21 late in the second quarter.&nbsp;

Trailing by 17 entering the third quarter, the Americans turned up defensively, which allowed them to get out and run on offense. The result was cutting the deficit to four points late in the third before settling for a six-point deficit entering the final 10 minutes.&nbsp;

However, after using defense to get back into the game, Team USA abandoned that philosophy as Lithuania dropped 39 points in the fourth. Although the Americans matched them bucket for bucket, more was needed as they couldn't get the key stops and rebounds when needed.&nbsp;

Kessler finished with two points, one rebound, and one block in five minutes, but didn't play in the second half. Team USA will now face Italy in a win-or-go-home quarterfinals matchup against Italy.&nbsp;

CANADA 88 | Spain 85In one of the tournament's best games, gold medal frontrunners Canada and Spain met Sunday morning in a do-or-die game, with the winner advancing to the quarterfinals and the losers heading home. With Canada's chances looking slim entering the fourth quarter, the Canadians overwhelmed Spain over the final 10 minutes to complete the comeback. 

Spain appeared in control for much of the game, but Canada kept fighting back to stay within striking distance. Olynyk was particularly huge in the third quarter when he knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to keep the Canadian afloat after Spain hit some big shots of their own.&nbsp;

The fourth quarter was all drama as Dillon Brooks (Houston) was massive when Canada needed him both. His three with just over a minute left tied the game at 80, before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City) hit a jumper to give the Canadians their first lead since the first quarter. Gilgeous-Alexander then clinched the win as he went a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line over the final 30 seconds.&nbsp;

Olynyk finished with six points and two rebounds, as Canada will now face Luka Doncic and Slovenia on Wednesday morning.&nbsp;

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"It Was Great" | Clarkson And Markkanen End On High Notes; Kessler, Olynyk, And Fontecchio Advance To Quarterfinals

Whether it be pride, preparation for the 2024 Tokyo Summer Olympics qualifying, or hoping to win a medal, the competition is as high as ever for the five Utah Jazz players competing at FIBA World Cup 2023.&nbsp;

Walker Kessler and Simone Fontecchio helped their teams pick up massive wins in the second round. At the same time, Lauri Markkanen showed why he's one of the top players in the world after leading Finland to a huge victory in the classification round. Unfortunately, Jordan Clarkson and the Philippines stayed winless despite another close battle, and Kelly Olynyk and Canada suffered their first tournament loss.&nbsp;

UNITED STATES 85 | Montenegro 73After rolling through their opening round with a perfect 3-0 record and average margin of victory of 37 points per game, Team USA knew the competition would get much stiffer — and bigger — heading into the second round. 

And that's precisely what the Americans got on Friday morning against Montenegro.&nbsp;

It was clear that Montenegro would try to slow the pace down and use their size and strength to push Team USA around. That happened in the first half as the Americans trailed by one, 38-37, at the break. But everything changed in the second half as Team USA found a rhythm on both ends, able to speed up the tempo that led to easy buckets in transition.&nbsp;

Anthony Edwards was the primary catalyst, finishing with 17 points — all in the second half — as they built a double-digit lead in the final few minutes to seal the win. Kessler only saw limited action again, but made the most of it by finishing with four points, one rebound, and one block in just under six minutes.&nbsp;

Having already clinched a spot in the quarterfinals, Team USA will face Lithuania (4-0) on Sunday morning at 6:40 a.m. MT. It's a big game as the winner will clinch the top seed and have an easier path to the medal games.&nbsp;

ITALY 78 | Serbia 76One of Utah's best attributes last season was that the Jazz — no matter the deficit — always found a way to make things tight in the fourth quarter. Whether or not they pulled off the comeback, Utah proved it was a team that would fight to the end and never give up. 

Turns out Fontecchio has taken that same mentality and brought it to the Italian national team. In one of the best games in the tournament thus far, Italy stormed back from a 16-point deficit to stun undefeated Serbia and keep their medal aspirations alive.&nbsp;

It was an excellent start for Italy as they jumped out to a four-point lead after the opening 10 minutes, but it was all Serbia from there. Over the next quarter-and-a-half, Serbia outscored the Italians 41-21 to take that massive advantage midway through the third.&nbsp;

However, Italy had an answer, and his name was Fontecchio. He helped Italy storm back as they used a 32-11 run to lead by five with just under two minutes to play. After Serbia knocked down a three with 50 seconds remaining, Fontecchio hit the dagger, a jumper with 30 seconds left to seal the win.&nbsp;

Fontecchio finished a game-high 30 points (9-of-11 shooting), adding seven rebounds and three assists. Italy will now face Puerto Rico (3-1) on Sunday at 2:00 a.m. MT with a spot in the quarterfinals at stake — win and you're in.&nbsp;

"We are really happy about the win. … We really did an amazing job as a team, especially in the third quarter down 16," Fontecchio said postgame. "We never gave up. … This simply shows the heart of this team, the will of this team. We don't care how bad we are playing, we just keep playing, keep fighting until the end."

FINLAND 100 | Cape Verde 77Despite being Finland's leading scorer throughout the tournament, Markkanen's efficiency hasn't been where it usually is. But on Thursday morning, the reigning NBA's Most Improved Player gave a vintage performance, leading Finland to their first victory at the FIBA World Cup.

In control from the opening tip, Markkanen scored Finland's first three buckets as they took an early 6-5 lead over and never looked back. He finished with 11 points in the opening 10 minutes, showing his toughness with a dunk while being fouled.

Leading by 12 after the first quarter, Finland kept pushing and eventually led by 15 heading into the break. Knowing what's at stake, they kept their foot on the gas to lead by 21 after three and cruise to the finish (no pun intended).&nbsp;

Markkanen finished with 34 points (12-of-19 shooting), nine rebounds, and two blocks. The Susijengi will now face Venezuela (0-4) with a chance to advance to the next stage of the classification round, tipoff is set for Saturday at 1:30 a.m. MT.

Brazil 69 | CANADA 65While Fontecchio may have played in one of the most exciting games of the tournament, Olynyk and Canada suffered one of the more shocking defeats when they fell to Brazil on Friday morning. 

It was a slow start for Canada as they couldn't find the bottom of the net and trailed by three after the first quarter. But things changed in the second when Canada again looked like a dominant team by outscoring Brazil 24-11 to lead by 10 at the half.&nbsp;

The third quarter was a back-and-forth affair, with each team trading buckets, allowing the Canadians to keep their 10-point lead. But the momentum changed when Brazil's Lucas Dias knocked down a buzzer-beating three to trim the deficit to seven entering the fourth. Brazil rode that storm until the end by outscoring Canada 24-13 over the final 10 minutes to pick up the huge win.&nbsp;

Olynyk finished with nine points and seven rebounds. In a win-or-go-home game, Canada will now face reigning world champions Spain on Sunday morning (7:30 a.m. MT).&nbsp;

South Sudan 87 | Philippines 68In what's been a difficult tournament for one of the host nations, Gilas Pilipinas suffered their worst defeat of the past week when they fell to South Sudan on Thursday morning. 

South Sudan got off to one of the hottest starts of the tournament when they jumped all over the Philippines to lead 34-17 after one. After exchanging buckets for much of the second quarter, the Philippines trailed by 18 at the break.&nbsp;

However, Clarkson and co. never gave up. They locked down on the defensive end and half South Sudan to just nine points in the third, and after scoring 17 in the quarter, cut the deficit to 10 entering the final 10 minutes. Most importantly, they had all the momentum.&nbsp;

The Philippines kept chipping at the deficit, eventually cutting it in half with six minutes remaining and igniting the home crowd. But South Sudan answered, closing the game on a 23-9 run to keep the host nation winless.&nbsp;

Clarkson continued his strong tournament when he finished with a game-high 24 points, adding four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. The Gilas Pilipinas will close the tournament when they face China (1-3) on Saturday morning at 6:00 a.m. MT.&nbsp;

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"Keep Fighting Until The End" | Fontecchio And Markkanen Shine; Olynyk And Clarkson Fall; Kessler Helps Team USA Stay Perfect

With the first round of the FIBA World Cup finishing on Wednesday morning, three members of the Utah Jazz are still alive in their quest for medals.&nbsp;

Walker Kessler saw his playing time increase in each game, helping Team USA to a perfect 3-0 record in Group C. Kelly Olynyk continues to thrive as the linchpin of Canada as they look like legit gold medal contenders after going 3-0 in Group H. Lastly, Simone Fontecchio continues to star for Italy as they went 2-1 for a second-place finish in Group A.&nbsp;

FORMATIt was vital that both Team USA and Canada finished in first place in their respective groups, as the record from ALL THREE games from the first round will carry over to the second round. And with only the top two teams from each group during the second round advancing to the eight-team quarterfinals, it's a huge advantage to be undefeated entering the second round. 

Each team in the second round will play only two games against the first and second-place teams from another group. The top teams from the newly formed groups — of 5 games played — will advance to the quarterfinals.&nbsp;

Here's a quick breakdown of how each team (and Jazz player) fared through the first round and what to expect moving forward.&nbsp;

United States | Walker KesslerOne of two rookies on the team, it was understood that Kessler's route to playing time would be matchup-dependent. With head coach Steve Kerr employing a faster pace and switch-heavy defense, Kessler was going to be primarily used when the Americans faced bigger teams. 

So while he didn't see much action in the first three games of the tournament — playing a tournament-high 12 minutes and finishing with eight points and three blocks against Jordan on Wednesday morning — Kessler should see an uptick of minutes considering Team USA's next two opponents.&nbsp;

The Americans will be facing Montenegro and Lithuania in the second round, teams anchored by NBA big men. Nikola Vucevic (20.7 points and 7.0 assists) is the star for Montenegro, while Jonas Valanciunas (13.7 points and 10.0 rebounds) is the leading man for Lithuania. Kessler should match up well physically against both players, signaling a bigger role over the next two games.&nbsp;

"I think that our team, all 12 of us, are unbelievable players," Kessler said. "Regardless of who's playing, we all cheer for each other, we all support each other. Let's call it what it is, we beat every team, and that's the most important thing. … Having 12 guys on a team who are all great players, any given night anyone can go out there and play well."

SCHEDULE— Friday, September 1 vs. Montenegro (2-1) | 2:40 a.m. MT— Friday, September 3 vs. Lithuania (3-0) | 6:40 a.m. MT

Canada | Kelly OlynykDespite much pre-tournament chatter about how the Canadians were expected to be gold medal contenders, Canada didn't look like the juggernaut during exhibition games. But after rolling through Group H by an average margin of victory of 37 points per game, it's clear that Olynyk and co. are right there with the Americans as the favorites. 

While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City) has dominated the headlines — and rightfully so by averaging 22.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 5.7 assists — Olynyk has been the clear-cut No. 2 player for the Canadians. He's averaging 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game, ranking second on the team. He's also been doing a lot of the dirty work in the post, notching big-time blocks and stops when needed.&nbsp;

The Canadians will open the second round against Brazil, a team they've never beaten in World Cup play. Brazil is led by Yago Santos (17.3 ppm) and fringe NBA big man Bruno Caboclo (14.3 points and 8.7 rebounds). Canada will then face top-seeded Spain on Sunday, a team they've lost five straight to in World Cup play. The Spaniards are led by the Hernangomez brothers (Willy and Juancho) and Santi Aldama (Memphis).

SCHEDULE— Friday, September 1 vs. Brazil (2-1) | 7:30 a.m. MT— Friday, September 3 vs. Spain (3-0) | 7:30 a.m. MT

Italy | Simone FontecchioAlthough it may not have been the opening round Italy was hoping for, they have advanced to the second round and will have an excellent opportunity to make it even further. Finishing in second place in Group A, Fontecchio and Italy will face Serbia and Puerto Rico in the next round, needing to win both games to have a solid chance at moving forward.

Being the only NBA player on the roster, Fontecchio has been the star Italy has needed. He leads the team in scoring at 16.7 points per game, averaging 4.7 rebounds. He's their go-to guy on offense, showcasing his smooth shooting stroke that has become familiar to Jazz Nation.&nbsp;

Their toughest game of the second round will come in the opener when they face a Serbian team led by NBA players Bogdan Bogdanovic (Atlanta) and Nikola Jokic (Miami). Serbia has been lighting it up from beyond the arc as a team by shooting 44.7% from deep. Puerto Rico plays an in-your-face style of basketball, using their athleticism and quickness to push the tempo.

SCHEDULE— Friday, September 1 vs. Serbia (3-0) | 2:00 a.m. MT— Friday, September 3 vs. Puerto Rico (2-1) | 2:00 a.m. MT

While their chance at medals may be over, Jordan Clarkson and Lauri Markkanen's tournaments are not. Moving forward, they will be competing in the Classification Rounds. These games are needed to establish the final FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ranking, determining which teams will qualify for the Paris Olympic Games next summer.

Finland | Lauri MarkkanenWith Markkanen and Finland emerging as the darlings of last summer's EuroBasket Tournament, expectations were set high ahead of the FIBA World Cup. Despite being put into the group of death alongside Germany and Australia — both ranked in the top 11 — the Susijengi believed they had what it took to make it to the second round. 

As the lone NBA player on the Finnish roster, Markkanen has been sensational by averaging 19.3 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. Although his shooting splits haven't been up to his standards, Markkanen is capable of putting the team on his back and carrying them to new heights.&nbsp;

Although it didn't come together as they had hoped, not all is lost as the upcoming games will be massive for Finland and their hopes of qualifying for the 2024 Tokyo Summer Olympics. They'll face Cape Verde and Venezuela in the classification games, needing victories in both games to have a chance at moving on.&nbsp;

SCHEDULE— Thursday, August 31 vs. Cape Verde (1-2) | 1:30 a.m. MT— Saturday, September 2 vs. Venezuela (0-3) | 1:30 a.m. MT

Philippines | Jordan ClarksonAs the de facto host of the tournament, expectations were high for Clarkson and the Philippines. Despite playing in front of a record-breaking crowd of 38,115 at Philippine Arena in the opener and being cheered on heavily for every ensuing game, the Philippines were close in all three group games before failing. 

Although the results could have been better, Clarkson has starred in front of his home nation, averaging 24.0 points, 6.7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game. He's been the catalyst for the Philippines during their constant fourth-quarter comebacks, yet he will have a few more opportunities to turn things around.&nbsp;

Led by NBA players Carlik Jones (Chicago) and Wenyan Gabriel (Los Angeles Lakers), South Sudan is looking to use the classification round as a springboard for Olympic Qualifying. The Philippines will face China in a game with massive ramifications if Clarkson and co. find a way to knock off South Sudan in the opener.&nbsp;

SCHEDULE— Thursday, August 31 vs. South Sudan (1-2) | 6:00 a.m. MT— Saturday, September 2 vs. China (0-3) | 6:00 a.m. MT

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"We All Support Each Other" | Kessler And Olynyk Enter FIBA World Cup Second Round As Gold Medal Favorites

With group play ending for four of the five Utah Jazz players competing in FIBA World Cup 2023 — Walker Kessler and Team USA are playing Wednesday morning but have already clinched a spot in the second round — three of them will have more action coming their way.&nbsp;

It's safe to say it wasn't the tournament Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson were hoping — nor expecting.&nbsp;

After emerging as one of the darlings at EuroBasket last summer, Markkanen and Finland struggled in the group of death. Meanwhile, Clarkson and the Philippines were serving as tournament hosts but also went winless in group play despite each game coming down to the final minutes.&nbsp;

While their chance at medals may be over, their respective tournaments are not as they will be competing in the Classification Round moving forward. These games are needed to establish the final ranking of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, which determines which teams will qualify for the Paris Olympic Games next summer.

Kessler and Kelly Olynyk continue to cruise as tournament favorites for the Americans and Canadians, respectively. At the same time, Simone Fontecchio and Italy extended their tournament by going 2-1 in group play. 

Read below for a recap of the fourth and fifth days of action.&nbsp;

UNITED STATES 109 — Greece 81Two games in and there's no reason to think the Americans are anything but favorites as they took down Greece with relative ease on Monday morning. Granted, Greece was playing without star Giannis Antetokounmpo, but instead of getting caught sleeping, Team USA was very business-like.&nbsp;

After Greece hung around through the first 10 minutes, head coach Steve Kerr went to his bench as Austin Reaves and Tyrese Halliburton helped give Team USA a 13-point lead at the half. In the third quarter, the Americans put the game out of reach, outscoring Greece by 10. Team USA never let up in the fourth, extending their lead to as keh as 31 in the closing minutes before cruising to the win.&nbsp;

Seeing more action, Kessler made the most of his six minutes on the court. He finished with four points (2-of-4 shooting), two blocks, and one rebound. As mentioned before, Kerr likes to play at a faster tempo with an all-switch defense, which means that Kessler's playing time will largely depend on matchups and facing bigger teams.&nbsp;

Team USA will close out Group C play when they face Jordan on Wednesday morning. Tipoff is set 2:40 a.m. MT.

"All of our guys saw the result of France last night, and it was a good reminder to all of us," Kerr said postgame. "You just can't ease into any game in this tournament, the level of competition is so much better now than it was even eight years ago. … A lot of really good talent around the world, a lot of good coaching."

ITALY 90 — PHILIPPINES 83In one of the most entertaining games from a Jazz Nation perspective, Fontecchio and Italy sent Clarkson and the Philippines packing in a game where either winner could've advanced to the next round.&nbsp;

With Clarkson and Fontecchio each starring for the respective teams, the Philippines led by three after one. After the Italians responded to take a slight lead, they broke the game open with a 12-3 run to lead by nine at the half.&nbsp;

Despite trailing by 13 entering the fourth quarter, the game wasn't over until the final minutes. Trailing by 17 with just over three minutes to play, the Philippines answered with a 10-0 run to make it a seven-point game with just under two minutes to play. But that was as close as they'd get as the Italians clinched the game at the free throw line.&nbsp;

Clarkson finished with a game-high 23 points, adding seven rebounds and six assists. Fontecchio led six Italians in double figures with 18 points and six rebounds.&nbsp;

Fontecchio and the Italians will face the No. 1 seed from Group B — most likely Serbia in the first game of the second round.&nbsp;

"It was a tough game, but I think we competed," Clarkson said postgame. "I think we competed in all three games. … We came out here and gave our best effort."

Germany 101 — FINLAND 75Although it wasn't the tournament experience Markkanen and Finland were hoping for, the Susijengi now have a launching off point ahead of Olympic qualifiers ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Despite being eliminated from advancing, Finland played well in the opening minutes to take a 22-19 lead after one. But Germany, one of the pre-tournament favorites, found a rhythm in the second and third quarters by outscoring Finland 57-33 to stay undefeated in Group E.

Markkanen finished with 12 points and two rebounds, closing out his tournament by averaging 19.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game.

CANADA 101 — Latvia 75Along with the Americans, the Canadians have looked like legit tournament favorites as they've dominated Group H while outscoring their opponents by 111 points (37 per game) in the three games.&nbsp;

Already deemed one of the tournament's darlings, Latvia was unfazed by Canada's stature as they came out on fire to lead 23-13 after the opening 10 minutes. However, that lead was short-lived as the Canadians got rolling on both ends of the court to lead by one at the break. After Canada dominated the third, Latvia refused to go away quietly. They cut the deficit to eight early in the fourth, but Canada answered with an 11-0 run to cruise to the win.&nbsp;

Olynyk was once again the steadying force for the Canadians, dropping 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists and finishing with a game-high +29 rating. They'll open up the second round on Friday against the second-place finisher from Group G — either Brazil or Cote d'Ivoire.

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"We Competed" | Kessler, Olynyk, Fontecchio Advance; Markkanen, Clarkson Set For Classification Games

When Sean Sheldon's basketball career ended following a devastatingly brutal shoulder injury while playing professionally in Europe, he had no idea of his future.&nbsp;

He knew he couldn't give up the sport of basketball entirely, having spent his entire life around the game. But while still in a sling and pondering his next move, fate stepped in and completely changed his life.&nbsp;

"Honestly, the love for the game and where it kind of started was I played in a lot of 3-on-3 tournaments when I was a kid. … They were super big in Michigan," he said. "All summer, I would play with my brother sometimes on his team, and sometimes I would have my own team. We would be driving around Michigan — my parents, brother, and I — and playing in different tournaments, so that's really where it started."

While visiting a friend at Michigan State in 2017, Sheldon found an opening for a grad assistant position on the Spartans basketball staff. For a kid born and raised in Traverse City — just three hours north of East Lansing — the opportunity to learn and grow as a coach under the legendary Tom Izzo was as good as it got.&nbsp;

"One of my buddies played football there, so I was going down to hang out with him and some of the football guys when I found out about the job opening," Sheldon said with a laugh when recalling the story. "I printed my resume off in my buddy's apartment, had him drop me off at the basketball offices, and I just walked in. … I'm still in my sling because I just had shoulder surgery."

"I was fortunate that David Thomas (Director of Basketball Operations at the time) sat down with me that first day. … About a month later, they called and offered me the job."

Instead of Michigan State being the final destination, it was just the beginning of Sheldon's coaching journey. Fast forward six years later, and Sheldon is not only an assistant coach with the Utah Jazz, he has returned to Europe as an assistant coach with the Finnish National Team for the FIBA World Cup 2023.&nbsp;

To hear more about Sheldon's coaching story — including his days with Jazz head coach Will Hardy in San Antonio — and his journey with Lauri Markkanen and Finland, listen to the Roundball RoundUp podcast below.

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"Love For The Game" | Jazz Assistant Sean Sheldon's Journey Began In Michigan And Now Continues In Finland

It’s been an up-and-down start for the five players from the Utah Jazz competing in the FIBA World Cup 2023.

Walker Kessler and Kelly Olynyk, anchors for teams considered favorites to take home the gold medal, are still undefeated in group play. Despite impressing individually, Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson have had a tough go of things from a team perspective. And Simone Fontecchio has the Italians on the brink of advancing to the second round.

Read below for a recap of the second and third days of action. 

USA 99 — New Zealand 72As already been discussed, Kessler’s time on the court would be very matchup-dependent considering that head coach Steve Kerr likes to play at a faster and more up-tempo pace. So, when taking on New Zealand in the opening game of Group C, Kessler was limited in playing time against a smaller opponent. 

Kessler made his national team debut by playing in the final 1:30 of the game, missing the only shot he took. While it wasn’t a debut to forever remember, his playing time should increase the deeper Team USA makes it into the tournament.&nbsp;

After a slow start, the Americans pulled away in the second quarter and never looked back, cruising to an easy victory. They’ll now face Greece — without star Giannis Antetokounmpo — on Monday morning, with tipoff set for 6:40 a.m. MT.

Angola 80 — PHILIPPINES 70Despite serving as one of the host nations of the tournament, the first two games haven’t gone the way Clarkson and Gilas Pilipinas have been hoping for as they fell to Angola on Sunday morning.

The first three quarters were back and forth as the Philippines and Angola traded buckets and never garnered much separation.

Angola seized control when it opened the fourth with a 12-3 run, forcing Clarkson and the Philippines to play catch up. After the deficit reached 16 midway through the fourth, Clarkson sparked a comeback as the Philippines went on an 11-0 run to make it a five-point game with 1:12 left. But that was the closest they’d get as Angola answered with a 5-0 run to seal the win.&nbsp;

Clarkson finished with another strong performance, totaling 21 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. The Philippines will look to stay alive — and possibly advance — when they face Italy on Tuesday morning, with tipoff set for 6 a.m MT.

Dominican Republic 87 — ITALY 82In what was arguably the most entertaining game of Group A thus far, Italy and the Dominican Republic went back and forth for 40 minutes before the Italians furious fourth-quarter comeback came up just short. 

It was a great start for Italy as they led by six after one, and although the Dominicans played better in the second, Italy took a one-point advantage into the break. However, Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota) led a massive third quarter for the Dominican Republic as they outscored Italy 31-17 to take a commanding 13-point lead heading to the fourth.&nbsp;

Even after the deficit swelled to 17 midway through the quarter, the Italians never quit. They cut the deficit to three with just 19 seconds remaining, but Lester Quiñones (Golden State) knocked down two free throws to clinch the win.&nbsp;

Despite the great team effort, it wasn’t Fontecchio’s best shooting night, but he still finished with 13 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Italy will have a chance to clinch a spot in the second round when Fontecchio and Clarkson face off Tuesday morning. 

Japan 98 — FINLAND 88In what might be the most inspirational/emotional game of the tournament, host-nation Japan secured its first-ever win over a European team in World Cup play when it defeated Markkanen and Finland on Sunday morning. 

Playing in front of their home crowd, the Japanese came out firing and took an early 22-15 lead after one. However, Markkanen helped calm down Finland as they responded to take a 10-point lead at the half. The advantage stayed the same heading to the fourth as both teams put on an offensive clinic in the third.&nbsp;

However, Japan couldn’t miss and Finland struggled to keep pace in the fourth as they were outscored 35-15 over the final 10 minutes. With the loss, Finland was eliminated from the competition.

Markkanen did all he could to keep the Finnish alive, finishing with his first double-double of the tourney with 27 points and 12 rebounds. He and his teammates will now close out the tournament on Tuesday morning when they face Germany at 1:30 a.m. MT.&nbsp;

CANADA 128 — Lebanon 73Deemed one of the tournament favorites months before the tournament, Canada struggled in a few exhibition matches leading up to Group H play. But none of that has mattered as they’ve improved to 2-0 following Sunday’s thrashing of Lebanon. 

In one of the best and most impressive offensive performances in FIBA World Cup history, Canada dished out a record-setting 44 assists while shooting an absurd 50-of-70 from the field.

The Canadians came out firing early, jumping out to a 16-point lead and then stretching it to 36 at the break. They weren’t finished, heading into the final 10 minutes up 52 before settling for the 55-point victory.&nbsp;

With nine players finishing in double-figures, Olynyk again shined with 12 points, a team-high eight rebounds, and five assists. Canada will now look to top Group H when it faces Cinderella-story Latvia at 7:30 a.m. MT.

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Olynyk Helps Canada Set FIBA Records; Clarkson And Fontecchio Barely Alive While Markkanen Eliminated

With five players from the Utah Jazz competing in the FIBA World Cup 2023, expectations are high amongst the group.&nbsp;

Walker Kessler and Kelly Olynyk both anchor teams considered favorites to take home the gold medal. Lauri Markkanen and Simone Fontecchio lead upstart programs looking to step into the upper echelon of teams. And Jordan Clarkson may be the most popular player of the tournament, serving as the de facto host as the star of the Philippines.

Four were in action during the tournament's opening day, with Kessler and Team USA having to wait until Saturday morning (vs. New Zealand | 6:40 a.m. MT) to get things started.&nbsp;

Read below for a recap of the first day of action.&nbsp;

Dominican Republic 87 — PHILIPPINES 81Clarkson and his teammates with Gilas Pilipinas were hoping for a different start. 

Despite tipping off the tournament as hosts and in front of a record-breaking crowd of 38,115 at Philippine Arena, the Philippines battled to the end before coming up just short in their loss to the Dominican Republic.&nbsp;

Clarkson was sensational throughout, finishing with a tournament-high 28 points, adding seven assists, seven rebounds, and two steals. He was the primary reason the 40th-ranked team in the world nearly pulled off the dramatic upset.&nbsp;

After going back and forth for much of the game (40 minutes total in FIBA competition), the Philippines trailed by three with 3:32 to go. Clarkson had a chance to make it a one-point game but was whistled for an offensive foul, his fifth of the game, and fouled out. That was the closest they would get as the Dominican Republic used a quick 4-0 run to put the game out of reach.&nbsp;

Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota) dropped 26 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Dominicans.&nbsp;

Clarkson and his teammates will have a chance to stay alive in Group A when they face Angola on Sunday, August 27. Tipoff is set for 6 a.m. MT

“The game is physical," Clarkson said postgame. "Some things didn't go our way towards the end. Playing physical is part of the FIBA game, we understand that. … We had a chance to win the game. The crowd was amazing, they supported us. I'm upset that we lost, but we have more games here."

ITALY 81 — Angola 67In a much closer game than anticipated, the Italians used a great start to the fourth quarter before pulling away for the opening game victory. 

Much like Clarkson did in the game right after this one, Fontecchio was dominant in the biggest way possible for Italy. He helped the Italians overcome a porous shooting night from beyond the arc after he finished with 19 points, five rebounds, and two assists, finishing with a +14 rating in the win.&nbsp;

Italy came out much tighter than expected against Angola, who then used that momentum to hang around and make things uncomfortable for the Italians. But when it mattered most, Italy buckled down on defense to open up an eight-point lead early in the final frame and never looked back.&nbsp;

Italy will now have a massive showdown with the Dominican Republic in their second game of Group A, which could clinch the group winner. Tipoff is set for Sunday, August 27 at 2 a.m. MT.

Australia 98 — FINLAND 72In what can be considered the group of death with three of the top 12 teams competing in Group E, Markkanen and Finland ran into a buzzsaw as Australia looked like a legitimate medal contender. 

Although the result wasn't ideal, Finland couldn't have asked for a better start as Markkanen came out firing to help them open up an eight-point lead early in the second quarter. However, it was short-lived as Australia, behind the play of former Jazzman Joe Ingles, erased that deficit quickly to lead by five at the half.&nbsp;

That was the closest Finland would get as Australia thrived over the final 20 minutes to pick up the huge win. Ingles finished with 13 points and four rebounds.&nbsp;

Markkanen finished with a team-high 19 points, adding eight rebounds and four assists. Finland will have a chance to pick up their first victory of the tournament when they face Japan on Sunday, August 27 at 6:10 a.m. MT.&nbsp;

CANADA 95 — France 65In arguably the most surprising result of the opening day, upstart Canada throttled heavy-favorite France for a 30-point victory in Group H. 

Despite the lopsided final score, the game's first 20 minutes were enticing as there were seven lead changes before the Canadians took a three-point advantage at the break. But they dominated the second half, outscoring France 25-8 in the third quarter to cruise to the win.&nbsp;

While Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City) was the star for Canada with 27 points and 13 rebounds, Olynyk was just as vital as he finished with 18 points, four rebounds, and two assists in 23 minutes.&nbsp;

Canada will have a chance to likely secure a spot in the second round when they face Lebanon on Sunday, August 27 at 3:45 a.m. MT.

a-chance-to-win-clarkson-markkanen-fall-in-fiba-world-cup-openers-fontecchio-and-olynyk-pick-up-wins

"A Chance To Win" | Clarkson, Markkanen Fall In FIBA World Cup Openers, Fontecchio And Olynyk Pick Up Wins

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