What was supposed to be a breakout season is quickly turning into a sporting ordeal. Miikka Muurinen, the revelation of FIBA EuroBasket 2025, is facing a grueling rookie campaign with Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade. Despite an injury crisis hitting the Serbian roster, the 18-year-old Finnish forward has remained on the fringes of the rotation, seeing only limited action in both the EuroLeague and the ABA League.
Head coach Joan Peñarroya decided to break his silence, detailing to Mondo Sport the reasons behind the prospect’s lack of playing time: “Miikka has the potential to be an excellent player, but talent alone isn’t enough. You don’t become a great player based on highlights. He’s a young kid with incredible physical and individual skills, but he’s coming from high school and has never played professional basketball.”
The Spanish coach pointed primarily to a lack of tactical discipline and a mentality issue linked to the player’s desire to head back across the Atlantic: “He doesn’t understand the tactical side of the game, which is normal given his age and the type of basketball he comes from. But the EuroLeague is a different world—even former NBA players struggle to adjust. It requires a different mindset: you have to study, listen, and learn. The truth is, he strikes me as a kid who only thinks about returning to the United States, and I cannot rely on someone whose mind is elsewhere.”
Peñarroya further clarified that the issue isn’t technical errors, but rather the overall approach: “I accept mistakes from young players; it’s part of the growth process. But teammates only accept you if you give 100% and show a genuine willingness to learn. Right now, Muurinen is not at the level required to play for a team like Partizan.”
The numbers, after all, speak for themselves: just 6 EuroLeague appearances, averaging 1.8 minutes and 0.2 points per game. This negligible impact seems to confirm the coach’s assessment. Muurinen himself has already hinted that his Belgrade adventure is nearing its end: at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, the Finnish “high-flyer” will likely leave Europe to continue his career in the NCAA.
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