With the success of Lauri Markkanen and Finland in Eurobasket, there’s another rising star gaining a lot of spotlight, Miikka Muurinen.
But who is he? Well, he might be the next best European prospect coming to the NBA. Also known as Slim Jesus, Muurinen stands 6’11” according to Olympics.com with a wingspan of 7’2”. And he plays with some remarkable athleticism at that size. Oh, and he’s just 18 years
old. Playing for Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona, he’s a 5-star rated prospect. You can see why when you see his high school highlights.
Maybe more impressive are his highlights during EuroBasket, where he’s contributing in a big way to winning basketball. With his incredible physical tools and athleticism, it’s no surprise he’s slated to be a top pick in the 2027 draft.
Beyond the eye-popping dunks and defensive plays, Muurinen has also been hitting big-time threes in big-time moments. The shots against Jokic and Serbia were in a major crunch time, super impressive.
Come 2027, who knows how high he’ll go? Could he be a dark horse candidate for the #1 pick? Maybe, but it’s very likely he’s, at minimum, a lottery prospect. Bleacher Report has him going 12 in their latest 2027 mock. My favorite scenario is that the Utah Jazz, who have a pick coming from the Lakers that season, get some luck and take him with the Lakers’ pick. The Jazz gave the Lakers Magic Johnson once upon a time, it’s about time they returned the favor.
However his career turns out, he’s definitely one to watch to see how things pan out the next few seasons.
