<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-what-makes-kasparas-jakucionis-unique-compared-to-other-rookies');   ga('set', 'title', 'What makes Heat’s Kasparas Jakucionis ‘unique’ compared to other rookies');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Kasparas-Jakucionis-on-Sept.-29-2025.jpg"><figcaption>Sam Navarro-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>What makes Heat’s Kasparas Jakucionis ‘unique’ compared to other rookies</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-02T16:31:18-07:00">October 2nd, 4:31pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-02T16:31:18-07:00">October 2nd, 4:31pm</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>MIAMI – As the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/exclusive-davion-mitchell-insists-heat-can-win-championship-this-season">Miami Heat have championship aspirations</a> for the upcoming season, the team will look for any player to step up and carry the weight, especially with the injuries striking the team. With <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-tyler-herro-erik-spoelstra-reveal-extent-of-foot-injury">Heat star Tyler Herro out with a foot injury</a> to start the season, rookie Kasparas Jakucionis could get some opportunity as he speaks about his first training camp.</p><p>While going through an up-and-down Summer League after being drafted with the 20th overall pick in the last NBA Draft, the Illinois guard is ready to produce on day one and get acclimated with the team. The one aspect that Jakucionis already has locked down with Miami is how much of an <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1973868215848874446" rel="noopener">“ultra competitor”</a> the rookie is like.</p><p>“An ultra competitor for sure,” Spoelstra said to ClutchPoints. “Really likes to compete, likes to have a score on everything. That typically translates well in this league. It’s also a little bit unique for young players to be that focused on trying to win. I’m pleased with the progress that he has made this summer. We’ll be open-minded to everything. I don’t look at his age to see if he can get an opportunity.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Asked Erik Spoelstra about rookie Kasparas Jakucionis and how he’s already showing how “ultra competitive” he is. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HeatNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HeatNation</a> <a href="https://t.co/VRXHWtvjq2">pic.twitter.com/VRXHWtvjq2</a></p><p>— Zachary Weinberger (@ZachWeinberger) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1973868215848874446?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Jakucionis does fit a need for the team in being a play-making point guard, though his turnovers and shooting percentage from beyond the arc have been questioned; however, he will develop these traits in the NBA. For his first training camp, Jakucionis told ClutchPoints that he is “really enjoying the process.”</p><p>“Yeah, it feels good, really enjoying the process, like the competitiveness, trying to learn every day, as much as I can,” Jakucionis said. “Pick up things, pick up new things, learn from other guys, and just try to take it all in.”</p><h2><b>Heat’s Kasparas Jakucionis showing his competitiveness in practice </b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Illinois-Kasparas-Jakucionis.jpg"><figcaption>Benny Sieu-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>While the<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-terry-rozier-is-ready-for-2025-26-season-despite-federal-investigation"> Heat get ready for the 2025-26 season</a>, Jakucionis’ role on the team could be an interesting storyline to watch this season in regards to the amount of opportunity he will get. There’s no denying, though, how quickly Jakucionis is getting acclimated with the team.</p><p>Spoelstra would highlight on Wednesday how the 19-year-old and guard Davion Mitchell have been battling with one another, describing them as <a href="https://x.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1973787027381641490" rel="noopener">“pittbulls.”</a> While on the court, it may look like a war, it really is all respect between one another, as Jakucionis spoke on how it has been making him better.</p><p>“Yeah, I think the, you know, the competitiveness is what we all do,” Jakucionis said. “And we compete every day, every play. And I like that, he likes that, and I think everyone on the team likes that. So I think that’s the way to go and compete in practice.”</p><p>“I think that’s all for love,” Jakucionis continued. “You know, like we’re trying to make each other better. He’s trying to make me better. I’m trying to make him better, and just working together towards the same goal.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Kas &amp; Davion have been BATTLING 😤 <a href="https://t.co/Znpa9MqEgu">pic.twitter.com/Znpa9MqEgu</a></p><p>— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1973787027381641490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 2, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Jakucionis would not practice on Thursday’s session in training camp at Florida Atlantic University due to a <a href="https://x.com/ZachWeinberger/status/1973789495867945152" rel="noopener">“sprained left wrist,”</a> though an MRI came back negative.</p><p>“It’s a part of basketball, you know, it’s nothing,” Jakucionis said. “And now I feel great, so it’s all good.”</p><p>At any rate, Jakucionis and the Heat look to improve with the preseason opener on Saturday in Puerto Rico against the Orlando Magic.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

What makes Heat’s Kasparas Jakucionis ‘unique’ compared to other rookies

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/miami-heat/miami-heat-kasparas-jakucionis-concern-2025-nba-summer-league');   ga('set', 'title', 'Miami Heat’s biggest Kasparas Jakucionis concern after 2025 NBA Summer League');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Miami-Heats-biggest-Kasparas-Jakucionis-concern-after-2025-NBA-Summer-League.jpg"><figcaption>Review and analysis of Kasparas Jakucionis 2025 NBA Summer League performance for Miami Heat.</figcaption></figure><h1>Miami Heat’s biggest Kasparas Jakucionis concern after 2025 NBA Summer League</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-25T08:48:25-07:00">July 25th, 8:48am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-25T08:48:25-07:00">July 25th, 8:48am</time><address><a>Rohan Brahmbhatt</a>Rohan Brahmbhatt is an adventure-driven sports writer, passionate footballer, mountaineer, and photojournalist. Rohan blends firsthand experience with storytelling—capturing the intensity of sport and the thrill of exploration. Whether on the field, a mountain trail, or behind the lens, he brings authentic, high-energy narratives that connect readers to the heart of the action.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Editorials</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Miami Heat have never shied away from betting on player development, and with the selection of Kasparas Jakucionis at No. 20 in the 2025 NBA Draft, the franchise once again leaned into long-term upside. A 19-year-old combo guard with a strong European background and elite instincts as a ball-handler, Jakucionis arrived with both promise and questions. His Summer League stint was a fitting microcosm of that duality.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-the-biggest-takeaway-from-kasparas-jakucionis-up-and-down-summer-league">Jakucionis played in both the California Classic</a> and the Las Vegas NBA Summer League, totaling six appearances overall. The early returns were rocky. In the California Classic, Jakucionis shot just 1-of-15 from the field across three games, scoring only 12 total points, 10 of which came from the free-throw line. He looked overwhelmed, uncertain, and hesitant against more physical, NBA-caliber defenders.</p><p>But when the Heat shifted to Las Vegas, Jakucionis found his rhythm in a big way.</p><h2><b>Heat’s biggest concern: Can Jakucionis clean up the turnovers?</b></h2><p>The Heat pride themselves on discipline and toughness, and the point guard position, especially in Miami’s structured system: demands consistency, poise, and smart decision-making. That’s exactly where Jakucionis <a href="https://www.si.com/college/illinois/basketball/nba-summer-league-grades-illini-alum-kasparas-jakucionis-heat" rel="noopener">fell short this summer</a>.</p><p>For all his natural feel, Jakucionis often held the ball too long, attempted ill-advised passes in traffic, and failed to anticipate secondary defenders. His turnover issues weren’t the result of bad luck, they were the result of poor decisions under pressure.</p><p>This isn’t entirely unexpected for a 19-year-old stepping into his first professional games in the United States. But it’s clear now that Jakucionis is not ready to command a second unit, and will need significant development time, perhaps in the G League or with limited NBA minutes, before he becomes a reliable contributor.</p><p>In his first Vegas game, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/biggest-miami-heat-overreactions-from-2025-nba-summer-league">Jakucionis erupted for 24 points</a>, shooting 7-of-12 from the field and 5-of-9 from three-point range, while adding four assists, four rebounds, and two steals. It was the type of performance that validated Miami’s belief in his potential. More importantly, it was enough for the organization to shut him down early.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">24 PTS | 4 AST | 4 REB | 2 STL | 5 3PM</p><p>Bounce-back game for Kas 📈 <a href="https://t.co/NZeInRZkSv">pic.twitter.com/NZeInRZkSv</a></p><p>— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1943812668214980962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>“The organization had seen what they needed to see from Kas, and he played his amount of games,” Summer League head coach Eric Glass said, per The Miami Herald. “And we’re trying to get some other guys in there.”</p><p>Glass emphasized that the Summer League experience was about mutual growth, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-what-wants-to-see-kasparas-jakucionis-limit-in-summer-league">for the team and for Jakucionis</a>.</p><p>“We got some stuff on tape… We have seven, eight weeks to get him better, to get him ready for the start of the season,” he continued. “It’s important to have that learning process… And he’s ready for that challenge, and we’re excited.”</p><h2><b>Final stats: The good, the bad, and the turnovers</b></h2><p>Despite his breakout game, Jakucionis’ overall numbers from Summer League paint a more sobering picture:</p><p>The raw scoring output was modest, and the shooting efficiency was deeply concerning outside that one hot night. But the biggest red flag, and the Heat’s most pressing concern, was the turnover problem.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Head’s-up play from Kas right before the half! <a href="https://t.co/26KLBCE3h6">pic.twitter.com/26KLBCE3h6</a></p><p>— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1944558601059868706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Jakucionis averaged 3.3 turnovers per game, a continuation of a trend from his college days at Illinois. In multiple Summer League games, he struggled to handle aggressive traps and quick rotations, often committing live-ball turnovers that led to easy transition buckets for opponents.</p><p>Despite the bumps in the road, Jakucionis has shown maturity and self-awareness about the journey ahead. “Every experience helps you,” <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-the-mad-silver-lining-behind-kasparas-jakucionis-ugly-summer-league-start">Jakucionis said. “As much experience as you have</a>, the more comfortable you feel moving forward. I’m just so happy to have this opportunity.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">how do you say "he's cooking" in Lithuanian <a href="https://t.co/lCkFJuYaPz">pic.twitter.com/lCkFJuYaPz</a></p><p>— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1943782799603118467?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>This mindset will serve him well as he prepares to represent Lithuania at EuroBasket, where he’ll face seasoned professionals and get another crash course in high-level competition.</p><p>The Heat, meanwhile, now have a full summer and training camp to refine his skill set and limit the turnovers that plagued his debut. Jakucionis is clearly coachable, and his flashes of shooting, defensive activity, and unselfish play are enough to warrant patience.</p><p>Don’t expect Jakucionis to crack Miami’s regular-season rotation immediately. But Jakucionis is a long-term investment, and Miami’s development program is among the best in the NBA. With seven to eight weeks until training camp, the next phase of Jakucionis’ evolution is clear: Tighten his handle under pressure, improve his shot selection, reduce live-ball turnovers, Continue building strength and endurance.</p><p>His ceiling remains intriguing. At 6-foot-5 with length, vision, and emerging shooting touch, Jakucionis has all the tools of a modern, two-way combo guard. But until the Heat can trust him to make the right decisions consistently, that ceiling will remain theoretical.</p><h2><b>Final thoughts: Progress, perspective, and patience</b></h2><p>Kasparas Jakucionis’ first Summer League experience was frustrating, encouraging, and revealing, all at once. He stumbled, adjusted, then flashed the brilliance that made him a first-round pick. But the Heat leave Las Vegas with no illusions: the biggest concern is still his decision-making and ball control.</p><p>That’s not a death knell for his NBA future. Far from it. But it is a reminder that player development isn’t linear. For Jakucionis and the Heat, the path forward is about embracing the grind, and cleaning up the mistakes.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Miami Heat’s biggest Kasparas Jakucionis concern after 2025 NBA Summer League

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-the-mad-silver-lining-behind-kasparas-jakucionis-ugly-summer-league-start');   ga('set', 'title', 'The ‘mad’ silver lining behind Kasparas Jakucionis’ ugly Heat Summer League start');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Kasparas-Jakucionis-on-the-floor-against-Minnesota.jpg"><figcaption>© Matt Krohn-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>The ‘mad’ silver lining behind Kasparas Jakucionis’ ugly Heat Summer League start</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-22T08:55:28-07:00">July 22nd, 8:55am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-22T08:55:28-07:00">July 22nd, 8:55am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>While it was an <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-the-biggest-takeaway-from-kasparas-jakucionis-up-and-down-summer-league">up-and-down Summer League for Miami Heat rookie Kasparas Jakucionis</a>, there are still aspects to take away from his first taste of NBA action. As<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-first-round-pick-kasparas-jakucionis-2025-summer-league-experience"> Jakucionos would also speak about his Heat Summer League experience</a>, his mindset would be praised by a member of the team, likely giving fans excitement about the rookie’s drive.</p><p>Kevin Smith of Spotrac spoke to many people around the league about each team, and when focused on Miami, he asked a front office executive about Jakucionis, who in the first three games of Summer League, made only one of 15 attempts from the field. While he would find his footing later on, there were still some frustrations, which the executive said, even expressing how Jakucionis was<a href="https://www.spotrac.com/news/_/id/2912/eastern-conference-summer-league-notes" rel="noopener"> “mad”</a> about his performance.</p><p>“I’m not going to tell you where he was on our board, but it was a heck of a lot higher than where we picked him!” the front office executive said. “The great thing about Kas is that he wasn’t very good in California. And he was mad about that. Here (Las Vegas), he was much better. That’s what will work for him in the NBA. He’s not going to settle for anything other than being great.”</p><p>Despite the immense shooting struggles, Jakucionis <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article310928425.html" rel="noopener">would say he was glad</a> to have had the experience, according to The Miami Herald.</p><p>“I’m happy to have this experience,” Jakucionis said. “I think we learned a lot as a team. Also, for me individually, I think I learned a lot, and just gaining experience every time is good. So I’m just trying to take it all in from coaches, from players who have been here. I’m just trying to listen and trying to take as much information as I can.”</p><h2><b>dwnodwnowdnoondw</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Illinois-Kasparas-Jakucionis.jpg"><figcaption>Benny Sieu-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-miami-fans-loving-kasparas-jakucionis-summer-league-bounce-back">Heat rookie would bounce back when Las Vegas play started in Summer League</a> as he scored 24 points on seven of 12 shooting from the field, five of nine from deep, to go along with four rebounds, four assists, and two steals. During an ESPN broadcast of a Summer League game, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra would speak about the frustrations, calling it a <a href="https://x.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1943796551886766536" rel="noopener">“good teaching point.”</a></p><p>“That was a good teaching point for him and we were all encouraged by the mental makeup he had,” Spoelstra said. “Look, it was uneven offensively — there’s no doubt about it. He had a lot of turnovers, some mistakes. All the intangibles — the defense, the hustle plays, the passing, all of that he was able to do while having some uneven offensive play.”</p><p>“Sometimes that can take a spirit or confidence away from a player, but he found a way to impact the game, impact winning,” Spoelstra continued. “That’s what our scouts liked about him as a young player. They watched him a whole lot more than we did at Illinois.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Coach Spo has liked what he’s seen from Kas this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HEATSummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HEATSummer</a> 👌 <a href="https://t.co/vdAquMdnNO">pic.twitter.com/vdAquMdnNO</a></p><p>— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1943796551886766536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>There is still work to be done, but the first step of having a working mindset and a strive to be great is taken care of, as Jakucionis understands how it’s a process.</p><p>“Every experience helps you,” Jakucionis said. “As much experience as you have, the more comfortable you feel moving forward. I’m just so happy to have this opportunity.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

The ‘mad’ silver lining behind Kasparas Jakucionis’ ugly Heat Summer League start

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-the-biggest-takeaway-from-kasparas-jakucionis-up-and-down-summer-league');   ga('set', 'title', 'The ‘biggest takeaway’ from Kasparas Jakucionis’ up-and-down Heat Summer League');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Illinois-Kasparas-Jakucionis.jpg"><figcaption>Benny Sieu-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>The ‘biggest takeaway’ from Kasparas Jakucionis’ up-and-down Heat Summer League</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-07-20T10:49:53-07:00">July 20th, 10:49am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-07-20T10:49:53-07:00">July 20th, 10:49am</time><address><a>Zachary Weinberger</a>Zachary Weinberger joined ClutchPoints in October 2023 as a Miami Heat reporter as well as an Associate Editor. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University in 2022 after covering the school's athletic programs since his freshman year at the FAU University Press, where he was a Sports Editor and Editor-in-Chief. He then covered FAU Sports for The Palm Beach Post.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Miami Heat</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>With <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-first-round-pick-kasparas-jakucionis-2025-summer-league-experience">Heat rookie Kasparas Jakucionis wrapping up his first Summer League</a>, it was no doubt a frustrating start for the 20th overall pick in the last NBA Draft. Though the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-miami-fans-loving-kasparas-jakucionis-summer-league-bounce-back">Heat guard in Jakucionis would bounce back</a> and find his footing later, it wasn’t always rainbows and sunshines as coaches speak on what stood out from the stint.</p><p>The inconsistency shown by Jakucionis could have been expected since the Summer League was his first taste of facing potential NBA talent. During the California Classic, Jakucionis struggled in the three games, totaling 12 points on one-of-15 shooting from the field, 10 of the points coming from the free-throw line.</p><p>He would start Las Vegas play strong, scoring 24 points on seven-of-12 shooting from the field and five-of-nine from deep, while also recording four assists, four rebounds, and two steals. To Miami Summer League head coach Eric Glass, the team saw <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article310928425.html" rel="noopener">“what they needed”</a> from Jakucionis, which is why they sat him out from the finale on Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks.</p><p>“The organization had seen what they needed to see from Kas, and he played his amount of games,” Glass said, according to The Miami Herald. “And we’re trying to get some other guys in there.</p><p>“But I think the biggest takeaway from Kas is we got to learn him, he got to learn us,” Glass continued. “We got some stuff on tape. And now we have seven, eight weeks to get him better, to get him ready for the start of the season, and to improve his skills. And that was good. It’s important to have that learning process and help him understanding as a 19-year-old what it’s going to be like to play professional basketball against grown men in the NBA. And he’s ready for that challenge, and we’re excited.”</p><h2><b>Heat’s Erik Spoelstra on “good teaching point” for Kasparas Jakucionis</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Kasparas-Jakucionis.jpg"><figcaption>Brad Penner-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>Despite the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/miami-heat/heat-news-why-kasparas-jakucionis-isnt-panicking-about-1-15-summer-league-start">initial struggle from Jakucionis during the Heat’s Summer League</a>, it could prove to be beneficial, as stated by Erik Spoelstra. The head coach would appear on an ESPN broadcast during one of the team’s games in Las Vegas and called the frustration a <a href="https://x.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1943796551886766536" rel="noopener">“good teaching point.”</a></p><p>“That was a good teaching point for him, and we were all encouraged by the mental makeup he had,” Spoelstra said. “Look, it was uneven offensively — there’s no doubt about it. He had a lot of turnovers, some mistakes. All the intangibles — the defense, the hustle plays, the passing, all of that he was able to do while having some uneven offensive play.”</p><p>“Sometimes that can take a spirit or confidence away from a player, but he found a way to impact the game, impact winning,” Spoelsra continued. “That’s what our scouts really liked about him as a young player. They watched him a whole lot more than we did at Illinois.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Coach Spo has liked what he’s seen from Kas this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HEATSummer?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HEATSummer</a> 👌 <a href="https://t.co/vdAquMdnNO">pic.twitter.com/vdAquMdnNO</a></p><p>— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/1943796551886766536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>In the six games played in the Summer League, Jakucionis averaged 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 3.7 turnovers per game while shooting 31.8% from the field and 21.4% from beyond the arc. The turnovers, which had been a concern in college with Illinois, were present in his outings, but will be an emphasis to limit.</p><p>At any rate, Jakucionis now plans to prepare for Eurobasket for Lithuania.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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