By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After being called up for the EuroBasket 2025, Rokas Jokubaitis was present to start training camp with the senior national team of Lithuania. In a media session on Monday, he went into his future with Maccabi Tel Aviv and also discussed the lack of any talks with the New York Knicks, the team holding his NBA rights.
“We will see in a few days,” he replied to a question about the current situation with the Yellows, “It has probably been mentioned, but I have been told not to talk about it, so we must wait a few more days. Maybe there will be news tomorrow.”
The Mazeikiai native was linked to fellow EuroLeague outfit FC Bayern Munich before Maccabi officially rejected circulating rumors about his future. An earlier report instead suggested a contract extension with the team based in Tel Aviv with an improved salary.
A seemingly busy offseason did not include the Knicks. “There was no contact at all,” he said, and once more ruled out another showing in the NBA Summer League. Back in 2021, he was drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder with the 34th overall selection and subsequently traded to the Knicks.
With the national team of his country, he was named to the preliminary list, heading to the upcoming international tournament. Lithuania will compete in Group B of the preliminary round, facing Great Britain, Montenegro, Germany, Finland, and Sweden in Tampere’s Nokia Arena, between August 27 and September 3. Similar to the remaining groups, the top four seeds will switch from pool play to single-elimination contests, with the knockout stage lasting from September 6 to 14 in Riga.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net