In the first episode

of Eurohoops’ EurohooPOD for 2024, Antonis Stroggylakis and CesareMilanti host Finnish basketball great Petteri Koponen.

One of the best

shooters in EuroLeague during his playing days, Koponen explains whyhe is optimistic about the future of Finnish basketball, talked aboutthe rise of the sport in his country over the last couple of years,and the potential the national team has to go far in tournaments inthe future. A first-hand witness to Lauri Markkanen’s journey, hediscussed the Utah Jazz forward’s path from a top talent to an NBAAll-Star and how it has greatly impacted basketball in Finland inmany ways.

A EuroCup champion

and All-First Team member in 2015, Koponen looked back at his career,from Virtus Bologna, the big successes with Khimki Moscow to anunfortunate run with Barcelona and contributing to Bayern Munichestablishing themselves in EuroLeague. He also talked about a caraccident that “almost killed” him, his “rushed” recovery andreturning to basketball after this life-changing experience.