Will Hardy and Jazz standouts journey to Helsinki to support Lauri Markkanen’s international run, building chemistry through Finnish candy and sightseeing before a high-stakes training camp.
The Utah Jazz don't have to report for training camp quite yet.
But that hasn't stopped several of the team's most important pieces from getting an early start on spending some time together.
Jazz head coach Will Hardy traveled to Finland this week alongside Keyonte George and Jaren Jackson Jr. to visit Lauri Markkanen, KSL Sports' Chandler Holt reported.
And the timing isn't completely random.
Markkanen is currently in his native Finland preparing for another stretch of international basketball, with the Finnish national team training ahead of the upcoming FIBA World Cup qualifying window.
Markkanen is expected to play in World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Estonia, while Finland also has a friendly against Iceland scheduled for Friday in Espoo.
Hardy, George and Jackson have gotten an opportunity to catch up with their teammate before those games.
KSL Sports reported that the three shared pictures from Helsinki during the trip, including stops around the city for clothes and candy.
For George, the experience isn't exactly new.
The Jazz guard also traveled to Finland last offseason to spend time and train with Markkanen, making this his second consecutive summer visiting his teammate's home country.
Jackson's presence adds a different element this time around.
Utah acquired the former Defensive Player of the Year from Memphis in February as part of an eight-player trade involving three future first-round picks.
The deal brought Jackson, Vince Williams Jr., John Konchar and Jock Landale to Utah in exchange for Walter Clayton Jr., Kyle Anderson, Taylor Hendricks and Georges Niang, along with three future first-round picks ... but Jackson was, of course, the major draw.
Now Jackson is getting some offseason time with Markkanen, George and Hardy before his first full season in Utah.
Markkanen, meanwhile, has remained busy overseas.
The Jazz All-Star and the Finnish national team are training at the Susi Training Center at Kisakallio in Lohja in preparation for the upcoming World Cup qualifying window, according to Basketball Finland.
Markkanen has already suited up for Finland this summer, scoring 23 points in an 85-77 win over Hungary on July 3 before leading his team with 14 points in a 98-69 loss to France three days later.
Finland currently sits second in Group L at 4-2, one game behind France at 5-1. The top three teams in the group will qualify for the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar.
There will be plenty of time for Hardy to worry about what Markkanen, Jackson and George look like together on a basketball court.
For a few days in August ... getting them together in Finland isn't a bad place to start.
