By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Widely projected to match or even surpass the legendary playing career of his former coach, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Miami Heat rookie Kasparas Jakucionis recently reflected on the elite coaching lineage that shaped his journey to the NBA.
“He reminds me of some of my coaches in Barcelona, like Sarunas Jasikevicius, and even last year with Brad Underwood at Illinois,” the 19-year-old Lithuanian combo guard shared with HoopsHype after being asked to compare the Heat’s head coach, Erik Spoelstra, to his previous coaches.
“I think they all have this kind of drive to win and always try to reach their maximum potential. They try to get everyone on the same page and include everybody to win. They don’t just say it, they lead by example. I’m really grateful to have this opportunity to be on this team and learn from the best,” added Jakucionis.
The Vilnius native played for Barca between 2022 and 2024, including the first of two years under the guidance of Saras. After taking his talents to the NCAA and suiting up for Illinois throughout the 2024-25 campaign, he was drafted by the Heat with the 20th overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft, presented by State Farm.
“I would say that here, the players are very good. Everybody on the court can basically do everything, and they have a lot of experience. A lot of the guys study the game, so their IQ is higher. The physicality, the speed, and the fact that the court is bigger, everything, basically. The game is faster too, especially with our pace since we run a lot. I like it because that is where I feel good, and I just try to execute in that,” he compared the NBA to earlier career assignments.
Settling in a rotation role with the Heat over recent weeks, following several G League assignments with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Jakucionis has improved his season averages to 5.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game.