The Finnish Basketball Player of the Year is an annual award that is given to the best basketball player (male or female) with Finnish citizenship. Finnish players that are playing anywhere in the world, qualify for the award. The award is voted on by Finnish sports journalists. The award was first given in 1948. Hanno Möttölä has won the most player of the year awards, with eight.
A female player has been chosen for the award three times. The first female selection was Hilkka Hakola, who won the player of the year award in 1956. Pekka Markkanen and Lauri Markkanen are the only father and son combination to win the award. The most recent player of the year winner is Lauri Markkanen, his seventh win in a row. He is the only Finnish player to be an NBA All Star.
Rank | Player | Awards won | Years Won |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Hanno Möttölä | 8 | 1997–2002, 2004–2005 |
2. | Lauri Markkanen | 7 | 2017–2023 |
2. | Petteri Koponen | 7 | 2008, 2011–2016 |
3. | Kari Liimo | 6 | 1963–1965, 1969–1971 |
3. | Raimo Lindholm | 6 | 1950–1951, 1953, 1955, 1957–1958 |
6. | Teemu Rannikko | 5 | 2003, 2006–2007, 2009–2010 |
7. | Kalevi Sarkalahti | 4 | 1972, 1974–1976 |
7. | Jorma Pilkevaara | 4 | 1966-1968, 1973 |
8. | Pekka Markkanen | 3 | 1989, 1993, 1996 |
8. | Larry Pounds | 3 | 1988, 1990–1991 |
11. | Kalevi Heinänen | 2 | 1948, 1949 |
11. | Heikki Kasko | 2 | 1982, 1984 |
11. | Kari-Pekka Klinga | 2 | 1986, 1994 |
11. | Seppo Kuusela | 2 | 1959–1960 |
11. | Timo Lampén | 2 | 1961–1962 |
11. | Risto Lignell | 2 | 1979–1980 |
11. | Anssi Rauramo | 2 | 1977–1978 |
11. | Timo Suviranta | 2 | 1952, 1954 |
18. | Anja Bordt | 1 | 1992 |
18. | Lea Hakala | 1 | 1981 |
18. | Hilkka Hakola | 1 | 1956 |
18. | Jouko Heikkinen | 1 | 1983 |
18. | Martti Kuisma | 1 | 1995 |
18. | Pertti Marttila | 1 | 1985 |
18. | Sakari Pehkonen | 1 | 1987 |
Imatra is a town and municipality in southeastern Finland. Imatra is dominated by Lake Saimaa, the Vuoksi River and the border with Russia. On the other side of the border, seven kilometres (4.3 mi) away from the centre of Imatra, lies the Russian town of Svetogorsk. The city of St. Petersburg is situated 210 km (130 mi) to the southeast, Finland's capital Helsinki is 230 km (140 mi) away and Lappeenranta, the nearest Finnish town, is 37 km (23 mi) away. Imatra belongs to the administrative province of Southern Finland and the region of South Karelia.
In team sports, a most valuable player award is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particular competition, or on a specific team. The purpose of the award is to recognize the contribution of the individual's efforts amongst a group effort, and to highlight the excellence, exemplariness, and/or outstandingness of a player's performance amidst the performance of their peers in question.
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Hanno Aleksanteri Möttölä is a Finnish former professional basketball player. A power forward, Möttölä played for the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association (NBA), becoming the first player from Finland to play in the NBA.
Petteri Johannes Koponen is a Finnish former professional basketball player. Standing at 1.94 m, he played both point guard and shooting guard positions. He was drafted as the 30th pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2007 NBA draft, and his NBA rights are currently held by the Dallas Mavericks.
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Pekka Juha Markkanen is a Finnish former professional basketball player. He was named the Finnish Basketball Player of the Year, by Finnish sports journalists, in 1989, 1993, and 1996.
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