NBA All-Star, reporting for military duty

• The seven-footer is at the Finnish Defense Forces' Sports School, which is specifically for conscripted athletes and enables sports training in addition to military training.
• He's expected to spend roughly 165 days in training, likely split between two offseasons to avoid conflicting with the NBA.

What he's saying: "It's mandatory … but at the same time we take pride in it, too," Markkanen told ESPN. "I think it sets an example to serve. And I'm confident I can do it in a way that it's not going to affect my preparation for next season."

The big picture: Finland is one of 49 countries with some form of mandatory military service, though it's among the few countries whose athletes have made headlines for such service.

• Finnish former F1 driver Kimi Räikkönen served as a corporal in 2000, and Carolina Hurricanes goalie Antti Raanta is among the handful of Finnish National Hockey League players who've completed their service.

• South Korean golfers Sungjae Im and Si Woo Kim skipped the 2021 Open to focus on the Olympics, where winning a medal would have exempted them from mandatory service (neither medaled). Tottenham star Son Heung-min completed his service in 2020.