Andre Kirilenko-esque prospect: Miikka Muurinen

[Airmiess]

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[Ruma85]

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I think he will be better, his also playing for Partizan this upcoming season before attending college for the 2027 draft.

[UcanUwill]

We talked about him plenty in Eurobasket thread, he looks amazing. I bit disappointed he signed with Partizan, but at least it is not Zvezda... He will be their new Vesely, hope he gets some playing time Euroleague. Guy looks more vertically explosive than Kirilenko, kid is legit.

[Airmiess]

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I think he will be better, his also playing for Partizan this upcoming season before attending college for the 2027 draft.

With the natural progression of forwards he will probably end up a better shooter, but im not too familiar with his floor game.
By the way he moves on the floor that will probably fill out.

[Catchall]

Kirilenko was very skilled and crafty with the ball, a great passer with great mobility in traffic. I don't quite see that in Muurinen right now, but he's an interesting player.

[FrodoBaggins]

Kirilenko was 6'9" barefoot with a 7-foot-4-inch wingspan and a standing reach somewhere in the 9'0" to 9'4" range based on comparisons to 6'8.5" to 6'9" barefoot guys with 7'4" or less wingspan measurements in the DX database. Muurinen is reported to be 6'10"/6'11" with a 7-foot-2-inch wingspan. Using the same method for 6'9.5" to 6'10" barefoot guys with 7'2" or less wingspans, Miikka's estimated standing reach falls in the same 9'0" to 9'4" range.

[Saberestar]

Kirilenko was very skilled and crafty with the ball, a great passer with great mobility in traffic. I don't quite see that in Muurinen right now, but he's an interesting player.

Exactly.

I get that they look pretty similar, but it's just their physical profiles. Kirilenko's defense and basketball IQ was ridiculous already early in his career but Muurinen doesn't excell at those skills at all.

[KGtabake]

Not anywhere near Kirilenko defensively.
Super athletic yes and maybe he'll become better offensively but on the other end i don't see it
Exciting nonetheless.

[dirkdiggler4177]

I remember back in the day, every white player who could shoot was considered either the next Larry Bird or Dirk Nowitzki.

Now every white player who can jump and play above-average D is considered the next AK, like Cooper Flagg or this guy

[UcanUwill]

I remember back in the day, every white player who could shoot was considered either the next Larry Bird or Dirk Nowitzki.

Now every white player who can jump and play above-average D is considered the next AK, like Cooper Flagg or this guy

I got other comparisons. Matas Buzelis? Jan Vesely? Tom Chambers?

[ChuckChilly]

I remember back in the day, every white player who could shoot was considered either the next Larry Bird or Dirk Nowitzki.

Now every white player who can jump and play above-average D is considered the next AK, like Cooper Flagg or this guy

I got other comparisons. Matas Buzelis? Jan Vesely? Tom Chambers?

How about an aggressive Chase Budinger

[Mirotic12]

Kirilenko was 6'9" barefoot with a 7-foot-4-inch wingspan and a standing reach somewhere in the 9'0" to 9'4" range based on comparisons to 6'8.5" to 6'9" barefoot guys with 7'4" or less wingspan measurements in the DX database. Muurinen is reported to be 6'10"/6'11" with a 7-foot-2-inch wingspan. Using the same method for 6'9.5" to 6'10" barefoot guys with 7'2" or less wingspans, Miikka's estimated standing reach falls in the same 9'0" to 9'4" range.

When Kirilenko went back to EuroLeague, his measurement with CSKA at that time, was that he had a 7-6 wingspan.

[Mirotic12]

I remember back in the day, every white player who could shoot was considered either the next Larry Bird or Dirk Nowitzki.

Now every white player who can jump and play above-average D is considered the next AK, like Cooper Flagg or this guy

I got other comparisons. Matas Buzelis? Jan Vesely? Tom Chambers?

How about an aggressive Chase Budinger

Hopefully not for this kid's sake.

Budinger could do nothing but jump.

[GrindCityHustle]

He def has that AK47 vibe. Does this kid block shots and get steals?

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[RookieStar]

I remember back in the day, every white player who could shoot was considered either the next Larry Bird or Dirk Nowitzki.

Now every white player who can jump and play above-average D is considered the next AK, like Cooper Flagg or this guy

I got other comparisons. Matas Buzelis? Jan Vesely? Tom Chambers?

When we made that Franz pick out of the blue, a couple of those who watched his MICH games said he was like AK47 on defense. No one of us really thought Franz was gonna be an offensive hub.

So why not Miika as a rookie Franz? Before we all found out he had more in his arsenal than just receiving a pass while cutting

[Ruma85]

He def has that AK47 vibe. Does this kid block shots and get steals?

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He blocks some shots, little shaky with steals, this year will be big for him playing for Partizan.

[deepeeenn]

I think his athleticism is a little bit overblown. I think his length helps exaggerate it. I don’t see the level of utility skill that AK had. So this must be just a physical and superficial comp.

He’s young but I need to see more before I think much more of him.

[GeorgeSears]

Looking like Kirilenko and playing like him are two different things.

[chilluminati]

The motor on this guy is wild, he's all over the glass and making defensive plays. Jumper mechanics look slow but he's young, he can only get better. Overall these are the types of players you want. High effort machines.

[Inigo Montoya]

He reminds me of a young Chris 'Birdman' Andersen.