Rokas Jokubaitis has begun its stage in the Barça, already embedded in the structure that his compatriot runs Conversation Jasikevicius, after being chosen by the NBA in the 2021 Draft. Knicks They were the ones who trusted him in the 34th position and with them he played the Las Vegas summer league with the permission of the Catalans, who have made him a long contract even though the boy’s aspiration is to play in the United States when he cures a little more in Europe.
In an interview with Donatas Urbonas for Basket News The new Barcelona player talks about how well the test with the NBA has gone so far and his big change this summer, leaving Lithuania to play in Spain.
“I thought the ‘draft’ lasted two hours or so, but after two hours they had only chosen twenty. I thought that the 44th would be chosen more or less, it was a more realistic position for me. As a good Lithuanian I was shy and did not set very high expectations “, he assures. As has been remembered this year with the case of Nikola Jokic, to which it also happened, Mark Tatum announced his name when advertisements ran on television: “It was a fun night”.
“I went to the Facebook page and read the comments. And people saying things. ‘Who is this guy?’ They called me Tingis Pingis and things like that. It’s going to be interesting.”, expresses. The last European to whom something similar happened, and with a much higher election, is close to him, in Latvia, a Kristaps Porzingis who was booed by what would be his hobby: “But the franchise is moving forward”.
This summer he changed his house to Barcelona: “I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. I knew I would have a more prominent role at Zalgiris and the contract they offered me surprised me, it made the decision even tougher. I am intrigued by the level of the Spanish league, I know there is no easy games and it will be more difficult to win the minutes “. It is endorsed by Sarunas Jasikevicius, it is a personal request of the coach with whom he is the great emerging star of basketball in his country. “Saras was very sincere: ‘I’m not going to lie to you. You know me. You will come, we will squeeze you and people will love you. It will be like in the Zalgiris. You will not see anything new in me’. I loved his honesty”. There was a point at which it was seriously considered to bet on the NBA at this time despite the fact that the agreement with Barça was made, but he reflected and will play for Barça (s / o Erick Moleiro): “In New York they told me that they would give me up if they chose me. And I think it was the most realistic scenario for me. After a good season in Europe I can go back to the summer league and fight for a place in the squad. Now I can talk. in the NBA more seriously, I wanted to see closely how they work in the United States. In my opinion, the most logical thing for me is to stay in Europe for at least one more year “.
“The average age of Barcelona was over 30 and they needed younger players to revitalize the team”, indicates. He also says that there are no great promises about the Euroleague even if Saras is there, but he also focuses on the League: “It is the best on the continent. It is a challenge and I love challenges”.
