Kasparas, your compatriot Jonas Valanciunas was on the opposing side at the Miami Heat’s home game against the Denver Nuggets. When he came to the NBA, you were just six years old. What are your first memories of Valanciunas and how does it feel to now be on the same court with him?
KASPAR JAKUCIONIS: It’s just incredible. Before we played in Denver this season, I had never met Jonas before. There we got to know each other a little better for the first time. The funny thing about the whole thing is: My first NBA jersey as a kid was a Valanciunas jersey from the Toronto Raptors (laughs). I got this as a gift from my mother. From that point of view it is of course a very special story.
You are currently completing your rookie season in the NBA for the Miami Heat. What did you learn most in the first few months?
JACUCYTON: In any case, I learned that the details are extremely important. And there are an incredible number of them. Be it personal things like your lifestyle, working on the little things in training, preparing for a practice session or a game and scouting your direct opponents – to name just a few points. Due to the fact that we have an extremely tight schedule here in the NBA, it is usually not possible to complete a training session two or three times a week, which is why viewing video material plays a huge role here.
In addition to the hard work every day, a rookie often has to show a lot of patience before the head coach trusts him more and more. How difficult is it for you personally to have this patience every now and then?
JACUCYTON: Well, I think it’s just what you simply have to do in certain moments. Because I’ve been in similar situations at my previous positions, I can deal with it pretty well. For example, when I moved to Barcelona as a very young player and was pulled up to the men’s squad early on, I also had to have this patience and assert myself against them. Of course, this experience now helps me enormously because I now know what I have to do to improve myself and convince the coaches of me.
You have taken three big steps in your career so far: First, from your hometown club Perlas Vilnius to FC Barcelona (2022). Then in 2024 from FCB to college in Illinois. And finally from college to the NBA to the Heat (2025). Which “step” was the biggest and most challenging for you?
JACUCYTON: (thinks) I would say that in retrospect my move from Vilnius to Barcelona was the biggest, but also the most important. I had just turned 17 at the time. While it was pretty bad for my parents to let me go at that age, I didn’t really have any problems with it. The entire system at FC Barcelona was simply great – even though I didn’t speak Spanish at the beginning and therefore communicated with my hands and feet (laughs). You know, I got out of my comfort zone at home, had to readjust and at the same time learned an incredible amount when it came to basketball. Today I can rightly say that I have developed enormously as a basketball player and, above all, as a person.
During your time at FC Barcelona (2022 to 2024), your compatriot Sarunas Jasikevicius, among others, was the head coach of the professional team. What influence did he have on your future career?
Jakucionis; He was definitely very tall! Unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to play or train under him for a long period of time. Nevertheless, he took great care of me every time I attended men’s training. I always got tips and advice from him on what and how I could improve. One must not forget that Sarunas was and still is an absolute legend in our homeland. In addition, he was also a point guard during his playing days and was therefore able to empathize with me and my role even better. That’s why I’m still very grateful today that I had the opportunity to talk and train with him.
In 2024, you took part in, among other things, the world-famous “Nike Hoop Summit” (where a junior selection team from the USA and the rest of the world meet once a year). Would you say that this was your final ticket or “trigger” for the 2025 NBA Draft?
JACUCYTON: (thinks) That’s a good question! I honestly can’t say whether that was actually the deciding factor. The fact is, however, that it was incredibly fun to play there and meet countless people my age who are all trying to take the same path – to the NBA! Of course, you also get to talk a little more intensively with different coaches or scouts. From that point of view, for me at least it was a kind of lesson in which I was able to present myself well.
To stay with the 2025 NBA Draft: When two absolute legends like club president Pat Riley and head coach Erik Spoelstra make the decision that they absolutely want to bring you to the Miami Heat and they ultimately succeed in doing so: What does such a show of trust from two such NBA greats mean to you personally?
JACUCYTON: This is simply overwhelming! When you have the trust of two legends like that – not just from the Miami Heat, but across the league – it means a lot. You can’t really put it into words. In any case, I will do everything I can every day to confirm her assessment.
What specific goals have you set for yourself in your current rookie season?
JACUCYTON: : First of all, I will try everything to help the team or to influence our game as much as I can. This doesn’t just have to be points. This can also be the case through strong defense, running routes or pace. I just want to do my job and develop myself day by day.
Finally, let’s briefly change the sport. You have already told us in advance that you are a football fan of FC Barcelona. How did this come about?
JACUCYTON: Well, on the one hand, through my own past at FC Barcelona. On the other hand, I was particularly fascinated by Lionel Messi during my childhood. And after he played there, I also became a fan of FC Barcelona. Now even some of my friends that I met at the academy there are playing in the first team there. That’s a really cool thing.
Do you also follow the Spanish FCB football games?
JACUCYTON: Unfortunately not as intense as I would actually like. Due to our own training and game schedule as well as the time difference, it’s not that easy. But if the opportunity presents itself, I would love to watch an encounter.
Do you have a current favorite player in head coach Hansi Flick’s team?
JACUCYTON: Yes, Lamine Yamal! During my time in Barcelona we even lived together in the same building. He was even my roommate (laughs). When I came there when I was 14 or 15 years old, he was 13 or 14 years old. Although we weren’t direct friends, we knew each other well and spoke to each other often. That was a really cool time.
