None of the other Finns will, either.

With no chance of progressing to the Quarter-Finals but presented with a dream opportunity to play in front of a packed Ljubljana arena five weeks ago, Koponen, a 1.94m point guard, and his teammates squared off against the host nation of EuroBasket 2013 and shot down the Slovenians.

Henrik Dettmann's team buried 17 of 32 three-pointers and signed off from the 24-team tournament with a 92-76 victory.

Six Finns connected from behind the arc, with Mikko Koivisto and Sasu Salin each knocking down four three-balls, and Roope Ahonen and Samuel Hanpaa making three apiece.

Koponen wasn't too shabby, either, sinking two of four.

"For me," he said to FIBA.com, "we had a great tournament, a great run but of course, we struggled all tournament long with our shooting and we are a shooting team, one that puts up a lot of threes, a lot of jump shots.

"When we make those shots, we are a very dangerous team.

"We tried to finish the tournament in the right way and our last game was great for us."

Koponen had a good shooting tournament himself from long range, making 16 of his 39 attempts (41%).

If only Finland had been more accurate in their first two Second Round games against Croatia and Spain.

They were off target more times than not in the early stages of both games and failed to mount a serious challenge against either opponent.

"You can always say if, if, if, but at this level, differences are always small," Koponen said.

"It's about the small details and we didn't play that well in the first two games of the Second Round.

"But we finished the tournament in the right way and were able to go home satisfied.

"We were ninth last time (EuroBasket 2011) and ninth this time, so we showed everybody it wasn't about luck, especially from our group there were a lot of good, tough teams."

In opening round Group D with Finland were Greece, Turkey, Italy and Sweden.

"Our record (five wins, three defeats) is positive from this tournament, so we showed everyone that Finland must be respected."

Koponen, who hails from Helsinki, would like to play at a major tournament like a FIBA Basketball World Cup or Olympic Games.

Who knows? Maybe some day, he will.

He's only 25 years of age, so time is on his side.

"First, the World Cup is maybe closer and then the Olympics," Koponen said.

"It's not an easy road for us. But everything is possible.

"In Finland, basketball is going forward, step by step and our players are getting better so anything is possible."

Koponen says the team owes a lot to Hanno Mottola, the veteran big man who went down with a serious knee injury in the First Round of the EuroBasket.

Mottola, who played in the NBA and the Euroleague, is considered to be the best Finnish player of all time.

Despite his injury, Mottola remained with Finland for the rest of the tournament.

His presence was invaluable.

"Hanno is a great leader for us, a mentor and the greatest player in Finland and he can help everybody with the small details," Koponen said.

"In a tournament like the EuroBasket, he was able to help with his experience."

Koponen had no time to rest after the EuroBasket. He had to join his club side, BC Khimki, immediately after.

"I still have two more years on my contract," he said.

"I am happy with the situation and I hope I get a bigger role and can have a good season."

Koponen and Khimki went into the Euroleague Qualifying Round Tournament but failed to win it.

They are instead taking part in this year's Eurocup.

As for not being allowed to put his feet up and relax after the EuroBasket, Koponen said: "I had one month this summer so that was basically my holiday.

"But it's a professional athlete's life.

"It is what it is.

"The main thing is, you do what you love and that's the greatest thing."