Mikael Jantunen
Jantunen playing for Utah in 2020
No. 20 Paris Basketball
PositionPower forward
LeagueLNB Pro A
EuroCup
Personal information
Born (2000-04-20) 20 April 2000
Helsinki, Finland
Listed height6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High schoolHelsinki Basketball Academy
(Helsinki, Finland)
CollegeUtah (2019–2021)
NBA draft2021: undrafted
Playing career2021–present
Career history
2021–2022Oostende
2022–2023Treviso
2023–presentParis Basketball
Career highlights and awards

Mikael Jantunen (born 20 April 2000) is a Finnish professional basketball player for Paris Basketball of the LNB Pro A and the EuroCup. He played college basketball for the Utah Utes.

Early life and career

Jantunen grew up in Helsinki and initially played football before switching to basketball at the age of 11. He competed for HBA-Märsky from 2016 to 2019, while attending the Helsinki Basketball Academy.[1] In October 2018, Jantunen committed to Utah over offers from Loyola Marymount, Oregon State, Georgia Tech, and Stanford.[2]

College career

Jantunen started three games as a freshman and averaged 6.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.[3] He suffered a fractured nose in December 2020, forcing him to wear a protective mask.[4] On 9 January 2021, Jantunen scored a career-high 20 points in a 79–73 loss to Oregon.[5] As a sophomore, Jantunen averaged 8.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Following the season, he opted to turn professional.[6]

Professional career

Oostende (2021–2022)

On 23 July 2021, Jantunen signed with Filou Oostende of the BNXT League and the Basketball Champions League.[7] He won the BNXT League Sixth Man of the Year award, as well as the Belgian championship with Oostende.

Treviso (2022–2023)

On 14 June 2022, Jantunen was announced by Italian club Treviso Basket of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).[8]

Golden State Warriors (2023)

On 28 June 2023, Jantunen was named in the Golden State Warriors squad for the 2023 NBA Summer League.[9] He played in a total of four matches, averaging 7.8 points and 3.3 rebounds in 18.0 min playing time.[10]

Paris Basketball (2023–present)

On 26 July 2023 he signed a two-year deal with Paris Basketball of the LNB Pro A (BBL).[11]

National team career

Jantunen represented Finland in the 2018 FIBA U18 European Championship. He averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, shooting 72.3 percent from the field.[2] Jantunen played several games for the Finnish senior national team in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifier round. He was forced to miss time with Utah in February 2021 to play in the matches.[12]

Jantunen was part of the Finland squad in the EuroBasket 2022 and the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

EuroCup

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG PIR
2023–24 Paris Basketball 13720.9.468.385.9233.61.31.00.37.19.3

College

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2019–20 Utah 31323.2.661.313.7334.91.1.4.36.7
2020–21 Utah 202028.1.600.370.8574.51.5.7.18.9
Career 512325.1.631.349.7794.71.2.5.27.6

References

  1. Teiskonlahti, Riku (28 August 2018). "Kameleonttimainen koripallolupaus Mikael Jantunen miettii, mihin yliopistoon NBA-unelmansa perässä menisi – juniorina hänen ensimmäinen lajinsa oli kuitenkin jalkapallo". hs.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 Daniels, Evan (8 October 2018). "Finnish forward Mikael Jantunen commits to Utah". 247 Sports. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  3. Allen, Trevor (19 April 2021). "Mikael Jantunen Leaving Utah To Play Professional Basketball At Home". KSL Sports. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  4. Drew, Jay (19 January 2021). "Protective mask hasn't hampered forward Mikael Jantunen, but he's almost ready to shelve it". Deseret News. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  5. "Duarte scores 25 as No. 17 Oregon beats Utah 79–73". ESPN. Associated Press. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  6. McDonald, Ryan (19 April 2021). "Utah's Mikael Jantunen turning pro, will not return to Utes". Deseret News. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  7. "Filou Oostende adds rookie Mikael Jantunen". Sportando. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  8. "MIKAEL JANTUNEN, UNA "RISING STAR" PER TVB-DALLA FINLANDIA UN PROSPETTO IN RAMPA DI LANCIO!". Treviso Basket (in Italian). 2022-06-14. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
  9. "Warriors 2023 Summer League roster". nba.com. 29 June 2023.
  10. Mikael Jantunen PF #20 NBA Summer League Stats - Per Game, basketball.realgm.com
  11. "Mikael Jantunen rejoint le Paris Basketball". parisbasketball.paris (in French). July 26, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  12. Drew, Jay (13 February 2021). "Utah basketball: Junior forward Mikael Jantunen temporarily leaves Utes to join Finnish National Team in EuroBasket qualifier". Deseret News. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
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