Tuukka Kotti, 44, stops: “We have come to the point I have been waiting for”

On Wednesday Ends a record Finnish basketball career. Tuukka’s home Playing the last match of his long career as his team Tapiola Honka faces BC Nokia in his last match of the season.

“It’s hard to describe this feeling,” Kotti, 44, told STT.

“It’s a big relief, gaming has become so pregnant in recent months, both mentally and physically. I have come to the point I have been waiting for. I’ve always said that I play as long as it feels good. Now it’s time. The feelings are confusing and I haven’t stopped.

The main career of the home began in the same hall where it ends, in the Tapiola Sports Hall. On October 15, 1997, he was first recorded in the Korisliiga match record in his breeding club, Foko, against Honka.

Kotti couldn’t get to the field in that match, but on January 18, 1998 he took his first step at the Main Series parquet and threw four points in the home victory against KTP.

This season, Kotti has been the oldest player in the basketball league and the only player in the series who has made his debut in the Korisliiga in the last millennium. Seagulls in the League most matches Timo Heinonen Like a home, he was born in 1981, but Heinonen is over half a year younger than home.

In addition to the Finnish Main Series, Kotti has played in the US University Series, Italy, France and Germany.

The men’s The national team’s trunk players were home to almost 20 years and, during his career, moved from an offensive -winning back to a profiled basketball player.

In the name of the home, there is a men’s national team’s number one -time number one match in 226 matches. He made his debut on the men’s national team in August 2000 and pulled his blue -white national team in a race for the last time in February 2020.

Kotti represented Finland at the European Championship four times in 2011-2017 and belonged to the Finnish crew at the World Cup in 2014.

“Pride is a bad word, more gratitude is the right word. I give thanks to the father of heaven and to all the people who have helped me. Of course I have had a fire, but no one goes there alone,” Kotti described his attitude to his national record.

Kotti has been awarded the Korisliiga Player of the Year 2010 and 2018 and defense player of the Year 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019.

Only the basketball championship was missed at home. He was closest to 2015, when he was in Loimaa’s Bisons ranks in the final series to Joensuu Kataja. The championship game led at that time Teemu RannikkoA familiar opponent from Junior Games and a perennial national team mate.

“There have been so many growth stages and life stages that have been in a long time. For me, the warmest memories come from people I have met and the communities I have been able to be.” They still give a lot. “