By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
The 20th overall pick in this year’s draft and former Barcelona youth product, talented Lithuanian guard Kasparas Jakucionis made a statement in his first NBA action.
After missing Miami’s first two preseason games with a sprained left wrist, Jakucionis recorded eight points and 10 assists with only three turnovers in 25 minutes during the Heat’s 112–107 loss to the Spurs at Kaseya Center.
The rookie immediately impressed with his court vision, dishing out four assists in his first four minutes.
“He has a vision,” Erik Spoelstra said, per Miami Herald. “I think that led to some of the turnovers probably in college. He’s willing, he’s courageous enough to try to make the play. So he has the vision, and he’s willing to try to make it.”
Jakucionis opened the game with a series of highlight passes, including setting up Keshad Johnson and Jaime Jaquez Jr. for transition dunks and finding Kel’el Ware for multiple buckets, including a three-pointer.
“Sometimes he just makes that easy play, just gets off it, and that’s what receivers like to get,” Spoelstra added. “You can see a natural connection between him and Kel’el.”
Despite the standout performance, Jakucionis remained humble.
“I don’t know. I’m just trying to play fast even though I think we could even play faster today,” he said. “But everything just comes from practice. Try to do my job.”
Watching his debut was mentor Goran Dragić, a Heat legend who worked with Jakucionis in training camp.
“It means a lot to have a mentor like him and to take all the information he has,” Jakucionis said. “He tells me all the advice, and I’m just trying to listen to him as much as I can, ask him questions. Whenever I have a question, I’ll ask him and just try to take it all in.”
On Dragić’s guidance, Jakucionis summarized:
“Just play fast, play smart and use my strengths against others.”