# Finnish Basketball Player of the Year

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.

## Finnish Players of the Year

| Year | Player of the Year | Team |
| 1948 | Kalevi Heinänen | Elannon Isku |
| 1949 | Kalevi Heinänen | Elannon Isku |
| 1950 | Raimo Lindholm | Työväen Maila-Pojat |
| 1951 | Raimo Lindholm | Työväen Maila-Pojat |
| 1952 | Timo Suviranta | Pantterit |
| 1953 | Raimo Lindholm | Työväen Maila-Pojat |
| 1954 | Timo Suviranta | Pantterit |
| 1955 | Raimo Lindholm | Työväen Maila-Pojat |
| 1956 | Hilkka Hakola | Helsingin Visa |
| 1957 | Raimo Lindholm | Työväen Maila-Pojat |
| 1958 | Raimo Lindholm | Työväen Maila-Pojat |
| 1959 | Seppo Kuusela | Pantterit |
| 1960 | Seppo Kuusela | Pantterit |
| 1961 | Timo Lampen | Lahden NMKY |
| 1962 | Timo Lampen | Lahden NMKY |
| 1963 | Kari Liimo | Helsingin Kisa-Toverit |
| 1964 | Kari Liimo | Helsingin Kisa-Toverit |
| 1965 | Kari Liimo | Helsingin Kisa-Toverit |
| 1966 | Jorma Pilkevaara | Torpan Pojat |
| 1967 | Jorma Pilkevaara | Torpan Pojat |
| 1968 | Jorma Pilkevaara | Torpan Pojat |
| 1969 | Kari Liimo | Helsingin Kisa-Toverit |
| 1970 | Kari Liimo | Turun Riento |
| 1971 | Kari Liimo | Helsingin Kisa-Toverit |
| 1972 | Kalevi Sarkalahti | Helsingin Kisa-Toverit |
| 1973 | Jorma Pilkevaara | Turun NMKY |
| 1974 | Kalevi Sarkalahti | Playboys |
| 1975 | Kalevi Sarkalahti | Playboys |
| 1976 | Kalevi Sarkalahti | Playboys |
| 1977 | Anssi Rauramo | Torpan Pojat |
| 1978 | Anssi Rauramo | Torpan Pojat |
| 1979 | Risto Lignell | Pantterit |
| 1980 | Risto Lignell | Pantterit |
| 1981 | Lea Hakala | Lahden Sampo |
| 1982 | Heikki Kasko | Hyvinkään Tahko |
| 1983 | Jouko Heikkinen | Hongikon Nuorisoseuran Urheilijat |
| 1984 | Heikki Kasko | Torpan Pojat |
| 1985 | Pertti Marttila | Kotkan TP |
| 1986 | Kari-Pekka Klinga | Torpan Pojat |
| 1987 | Sakari Pehkonen | Helsingin NMKY |
| 1988 | Larry Pounds | Kotkan TP |
| 1989 | Pekka Markkanen | Hongikon Nuorisoseuran Urheilijat |
| 1990 | Larry Pounds | Kotkan TP |
| 1991 | Larry Pounds | Kotkan TP |
| 1992 | Anja Bordt | Karhun Pojat |
| 1993 | Pekka Markkanen | Hongikon Nuorisoseuran Urheilijat |
| 1994 | Kari-Pekka Klinga | Torpan Pojat |
| 1995 | Martti Kuisma | Helsingin NMKY |
| 1996 | Pekka Markkanen | Torpan Pojat |
| 1997 | Hanno Möttölä | University of Utah |
| 1998 | Hanno Möttölä | University of Utah |
| 1999 | Hanno Möttölä | University of Utah |
| 2000 | Hanno Möttölä | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2001 | Hanno Möttölä | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2002 | Hanno Möttölä | Atlanta Hawks / TAU Cerámica |
| 2003 | Teemu Rannikko | Roseto Basket / Scavolini Pesaro |
| 2004 | Hanno Möttölä | Skipper Bologna / Scavolini Pesaro |
| 2005 | Hanno Möttölä | Scavolini Pesaro / Dynamo Moscow |
| 2006 | Teemu Rannikko | Olimpija Ljubljana |
| 2007 | Teemu Rannikko | Olimpija Ljubljana / Khimki |
| 2008 | Petteri Koponen | Espoon Honka / Virtus Bologna |
| 2009 | Teemu Rannikko | Khimki / CB Granada |
| 2010 | Teemu Rannikko | CB Granada / Pallacanestro Varese |
| 2011 | Petteri Koponen | Virtus Bologna |
| 2012 | Petteri Koponen | Virtus Bologna / Khimki |
| 2013 | Petteri Koponen | Khimki |
| 2014 | Petteri Koponen | Khimki |
| 2015 | Petteri Koponen | Khimki |
| 2016 | Petteri Koponen | Khimki / FC Barcelona |
| 2017 | Lauri Markkanen | University of Arizona / Chicago Bulls |
| 2018 | Lauri Markkanen | Chicago Bulls |
| 2019 | Lauri Markkanen | Chicago Bulls |
| 2020 | Lauri Markkanen | Chicago Bulls |
| 2021 | Lauri Markkanen | Chicago Bulls / Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2022 | Lauri Markkanen | Cleveland Cavaliers / Utah Jazz |
| 2023 | Lauri Markkanen | Utah Jazz |

## Number of awards won by player

| 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 |