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“Gonna Come Back Like Shaq”: Latest Update on Utah Jazz All-Star Leaves NBA Champion Kyle Kuzma and Thousands Astonished

Published 04/07/2023, 6:10 AM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

Even though the Utah Jazz struggled towards the end of the regular season, Lauri Markkanen displayed one of his most impressive performances. With a great shot at the Most Improved Player award, Markkanen’s plans for the off-season have left fans surprised. However, Washington Wizards star Kyle Kuzma in his reply to the Finnish player’s planned post-season venture stood out amongst reactions.

27-year-old Kuzma also probably has a lot of spare time as he continues to stay out due to an injury. He managed a hilarious reply as he surely took some time to process the latest Markkanen update that has caught the attention of the NBA world.

Lauri Markkanen’s off-season plans bring out the fun side of an amazed Kyle Kuzma

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The 25-year-old forward of the Utah Jazz, Lauri Markkanen, made a surprising statement recently. Averaging 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds for his new team this season, he gave it his all for the Jazz. With 1691 points in a single season, Markkanen stands at the top with a great roster by his side. At the start of the season, the Jazz led by Markkanen was the first seed in the Western Conference. However, the team could not bear the high competition in the West over the long season. 

USA Today via Reuters

Though Markkanen and the Jazz will unfortunately not be seen in the playoffs this year, the 25-year-old has already made plans to return to his country in the off-season – to serve in the military. The Jazz star revealed he will be training for Finland’s armed forces this off-season. Male citizens of Finland must serve a certain period in the army by the time they reach the age of 30. 

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After Jazz’s loss against the Oklahoma City Thunder today, the team is confirmed to not appear even in the play-in picture this season. Though it must be surely heartbreaking for Markkanen, he can now join the Finland military sooner.

Washington Wizards star Kyle Kuzma’s reply to Markkanen’s news stole the show on Twitter. The 6’9″ forward stated in his reply to a tweet sharing the update, “Saw that boy shoot this year and said…” followed by multiple ‘saluting’ emojis! The hilarious post caught the attention of NBA buffs who have not failed to notice the significantly improved form Markkanen has displayed. 

Fans have high hopes for the Jazz forward

With a stunning 7-feet-tall physique and weighing a healthy 109 kg, Markkanen is now headed to the train for the Finland military. Considering the exertion he will have to undergo, fans believe Markkanen is only going to get fitter. Here are some of the fans’ reactions to the news from Instagram. They await a transformation when the Finnish forward returns! 

“Bros gonna come back like Shaq”

“Bro gonna come back looking like Ronaldo.”

“Watch bro come back in the best shape of his life”

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“Shooter on and off the court”

“He about to come back to the league next year built like bron”

“Dudes gonna come back swole as hell”

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Watch this story: “When Lionel Messi and NBA legend Kobe Bryant battled it out on a plane against a dessert”

Fans and Kyle Kuzma alike seem to have high hopes for the Finn, despite the astonishing update on his off-season plans. Do you think Lauri Markkanen will shine even brighter for the Utah Jazz next season? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Written by:

Rohan Dharmalingam

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Rohan Dharmalingam is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. He has been following the NBA for a decade now and specializes in covering trade rumors and reports on the ever-changing trade market. As a passionate basketball enthusiast, Rohan's love for the game was ignited by the wizardry of Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry.
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Edited by:

Aayush Kapoor