Miami Heat rookie Kasparas Jakucionis finished with eight points and 10 assists across 25 minutes. (Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images)
After being sidelined for the first two preseason games due to a left wrist injury, Miami Heat rookie Kasparas Jakucionis made his first appearance since July against the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday.
And the Heat’s No. 20 overall pick left a strong first impression, finishing with eight points, a game-high 10 assists, two steals and one block in 25 minutes. He was everywhere from the first second he stepped onto the hardwood, which Erik Spoelstra commended after the team’s 112-107 loss.
“He’s been around really since right after summer league so we’ve been able to see him in his workouts,” Spoelstra said after the game. “You see his tenaciousness in his approach to everything. He’s full speed, has a real kamikaze element to him.
“He’s like jet fuel. Immediately, you feel like his energy, his speed (are there). And it was great to have him out there. It was fun, those minutes. We didn’t get the win, but the second unit played winning basketball. It was really good basketball. It was fun to watch and I really respected how hard they competed.”
The Heat’s aforementioned second unit primarily consisted of Jakucionis, Pelle Larsson — also appearing in his first preseason action — Jaime Jaquez Jr., Keshad Johnson and Kel’el Ware, who scored a game-high 29 points and was the primary beneficiary of the rookie’s presence.
Jakucionis’ vision and playmaking was on full display, flashing his loaded arsenal of passing in the pick-and-roll and as a downhill creator — setting up Ware for six of his 10 assists.
“He has a vision,” Spoelstra said. “I think (his vision) led to some of the turnovers in college — with what he’s crazy enough to (do to) try and make a play. He has the vision. … Sometimes, he just makes the easy play and gets off it. That’s what receivers like to get — an early ball where they can go make a play. He did that several times. … You could see a natural connection between him and [Kel’el Ware].”
Listed at 6-foot-6, Jakucionis and did a good job sliding his feet against San Antonio’s ball handlers. His defense was his most impressive feat in Summer League, so it was a very good sign to see all of it carry over on an NBA hardwood — albeit in preseason.
“I’m just trying to play fast, even though I think we can play faster,” Jakucionis said after the game. “Everything just comes from practice — trying to do my job.”
It’s still way too early to make any conclusions, but it was hard not to be impressed with Jakucionis’ play in his first NBA action. What are you looking to see from him for the rest of preseason? Let us know in the comments!
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