In two games, he scored a staggering 79 points! Markkanen contributed 31 points to secure another victory over Belgium, marking Finland's 500th win in history.

On August 12, Beijing time, in a EuroBasket warm-up match, Finland defeated Belgium 92-74, with Markkanen contributing 31 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals, shooting 8 of 12 from the field, 4 of 6 from three-point range, and 11 of 12 from the free-throw line, helping Finland achieve their 500th international victory. A few days prior, Finland had faced Belgium, winning that match 105-62, with Markkanen scoring 48 points. Across these two warm-up games, he amassed a total of 79 points, showcasing his excellent form.

This match held special significance for veteran Sasu Salin, as it marked the 15th anniversary of his debut for the Finnish national team. In the same arena where he began his journey with the "Wolf Pack" (the nickname for the Finnish national team), he scored 17 points in this game.

Hans Vanwijn scored 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists for the Belgian team. Belgium has now suffered three consecutive defeats during their preparations for the EuroBasket, and they will compete in Group D of this EuroBasket in Katowice, Poland.

Finland, along with Latvia, Poland, and Cyprus, will serve as one of the four host countries for this year's European Basketball Championship. In Group B, the Finnish team will face Germany, Great Britain, Lithuania, Montenegro, and Sweden. Finland's goal this year is to achieve their best performance in history.

Since starting in 1939, Finland has grown to become one of the most promising countries in international basketball. Their seventh-place finish at the 2022 EuroBasket, along with two qualifications for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, highlights their development.

In the 2024-25 season, Markkanen played only 47 regular-season games for the Jazz due to injury, averaging 19 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, with a shooting percentage of 42.3% and a three-point shooting percentage of 34.6%.