BarcelonaA classic with great repercussions. Barça and Real Madrid play Euroleague semifinals in Belgrade this Thursday (9pm, DAZN), where Rokas Jokubaitis will make his debut playing his first final four. The young Lithuanian baseman has become a reliable reference for his compatriot Sarunas Jasikevicius. The game director is only 21 years old, but he already sees basketball with a privileged vision.
When did you start playing basketball?
– I think he was six years old and had not yet started the first year of school. My family had always played basketball, so it was a little obvious that I had to try it too. My first toy was a basketball. Being able to become a professional player makes me very happy.
When did you realize that you could do it professionally?
– I don’t know, at first it was just like an extracurricular activity in which I had a trace. When I was 12 or 13 I felt that basketball was not just fun. It meant something more to me. I started worrying about every game. If I played a bad game, I spent time thinking about why. My father helped me a lot to follow in the footsteps of a professional player.
Barça is more than a club, but in Lithuania basketball is more than a sport.
– I agree, it’s practically a religion. People are more involved in basketball than in other countries and it is very important for their day to day life. To me it is a double honor; Being Lithuanian and playing basketball at Barça is special. I notice that people are waiting for me and wish me good luck. To be able to dispute one final four it’s a special feeling.
Sarunas Jasikevicius is very strict with you. How is your relationship with him?
– She’s very good. He cares about everything, down to the smallest detail. Know my way of being and how I react to your training methods. It helps me stay focused all the time. I can’t say anything bad. When he shouts, I wonder what I did wrong. I like his methods.
Calathes, Laprovittola … What have you learned from players like them?
– They have at least three times as much experience as me. During training I strive to overcome them and play 100%. It’s about taking advantage of every opportunity to improve. They know all the secrets inside the court, when it is advisable to speed up the game or when it is better to lower the revolutions. They know the DNA of the team by heart and learning from them every day is a luxury. I’ve been with them for eight or nine months and I feel like I’ve improved every day.
What feelings do you have before the final four? Will he sleep well before the match against Madrid?
– It’s hard to say. I have a very big nervous mess, but in the right direction. It is the first final four that I will dispute and I want to enjoy the experience. The expectations generated by our team are very high and that makes me nervous, but in the end we play basketball so we can live moments like this.
What will be the key to winning?
– It will be the sixth time we play against Madrid this season. We both know each other very well and the key will be to keep a cool head throughout the game. We know it will not be easy and we will have to play with a lot of concentration for 40 minutes. We need to follow the game plan and offer a solid basketball. The details will surely make a difference.
You have been distinguished as the best young man in the competition.
– Yes, it is a hallucinatory feeling that gives me a lot of hope. Being the first Lithuanian to win this award makes me very proud, but I don’t think it’s an individual award. Everyone has helped me a lot and so this distinction is for all those people in the family or team who always help me.
Barcelona is his first experience outside his country.
– I must admit that at first I was a little shocked. I was a guy coming to a big city from Lithuania, but life is very interesting, here. Time passes very quickly and with basketball everything is easier. I enjoy the experience.
Where is the dream of playing in the NBA?
– I get in touch with the people of the New York Knicks on a regular basis, but I still can’t say anything about it. The possibilities for the future are open, so we’ll see how the season ends and what happens in the summer.
