Heat’s Kasparas Jakucionis hoping to follow up encouraging rookie season with productive offseason
As the Miami Heat’s talent evaluators work at this week’s NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, it’s a reminder of the hours they put in last year to add a fresh-faced teenager to the roster.
That teenager is 19-year-old guard Kasparas Jakucionis, who the Heat selected with the 20th overall pick in last year’s NBA Draft.
“Kas surprised all of us,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said after Jakucionis’ rookie season. “He’s very mature for his years, but he’s a diligent worker. He is the nicest guy off the court, but he is an animal on the court. He’s not trying to make any friends in this league. That’s where he’s Goran [Dragic]-esque. The contrast on the court between the lines and his personality off the court, I love that about him.”
Jakucionis played in 53 games and made 12 starts during his first NBA regular season. The only player in franchise history who played in more regular-season games with the Heat as a teenager is Justise Winslow, who played in 69 games as a 19-year-old in his rookie season in 2015-16.
Jakucionis closed the regular season with appearances in 52 of the Heat’s final 56 regular-season games. He logged double-digit minutes in 45 of those 52 appearances.
“It’s been fun,” said Jakucionis, who turns 20 on May 29. “It was a lot of learning, and that’s what I wanted to do. Learn as much as possible, and still keep learning now, keep growing. Try to listen as much as possible to the coaches, the players, and just try to take it all in. And yeah, just learning and growing. I think that was the key, and that is the key for me.”
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Jakucionis (6-foot-5 and 200 pounds) ended his first NBA regular season averaging 6.2 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game while shooting 42.9% from the field and 42.3% from three-point range. The Heat outscored teams by three points per 100 possessions when he was on the court this regular season.
Jakucionis’ NBA playing time came after he began his rookie season out of the Heat’s rotation, as he logged only 53.7 seconds in the NBA through the Heat’s first 26 games of the season. Instead, Jakucionis spent the first part of his rookie season in the G League with the Heat’s developmental affiliate, the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
But Jakucionis went on to crack the Heat’s rotation in December by impressing coaches with his energy, playmaking skills and ability to hold up on defense. He also turned into one of the Heat’s top outside shooters.
While at lower volume than some of the Heat’s other top shooters, Jakucionis closed his first NBA regular season with a team-best three-point shooting percentage of 42.3% (66 of 156). Among the 242 NBA players who attempted more than 150 threes this regular season, Jakucionis finished with the 10th-best three-point percentage.
“Honestly, just work that I put in this summer,” Jakucionis said when asked what led to his efficient three-point shooting in his first NBA season. “There was a lot of focus on that, on shooting. So I just worked on that. And then little by little, I probably gained more confidence and started feeling better and better.”
While Jakucionis was a high-usage guard at the college level, he was asked to play in more of an off-ball role as an NBA rookie. That forced him to develop other areas of his game, becoming a better spot-up three-point shooter and cutter.
“I think I’m pretty adaptable on the court,” Jakucionis said. “I can try to implement other things. But yeah, it was a little bit of a tough adjustment for sure to play a different kind of basketball. But like I said, I try to do the best I can in any situation, and just work on the things I need to work on, especially this summer, and get better.”
What are the things Jakucionis plans to work on during his first full NBA offseason, which could include another summer league appearance?
“Just get stronger in the weight room,” said Jakucionis, who shot just 28 of 51 (54.9%) from within the restricted area during his rookie season. “And then on the ball and off the ball, just work on my handles, try to get tight on my handles, get into the paint with two feet, try to make the right read from there. Get some more paint touches, for sure. And off the ball, it’s just about spacing, shooting, and running basically.”
With the Heat hoping to make a big move to upgrade its roster this offseason — like potentially trading for Milwaukee Bucks two-time NBA MVP and nine-time All-NBA forward Giannis Antetokounmpo — Jakucionis and the other young players on Miami’s roster are in danger of being dealt.
But if Jakucionis is back, he plans to pick up where he left off and continue impressing the Heat next season.
“Whatever the coach needs from me, I’ll do it,” Jakucionis said. “Whatever situation I’m put in, I’ll do my best in that, and I’ll just give 100%.”
