Less than 48 hours ago, Miami Heat rookie Kasparas Jakucionis had played just a total of 54 seconds as a rookie — which came in a 17-point blowout against the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this month.
Due to myriad backcourt injuries, however, he received his opportunity. On Thursday against the Brooklyn Nets, he played eight first-half minutes. And in Friday’s back-to-back against Boston, with Davion Mitchell (ankle) sidelined, he made his first career start.
“It happened fast,” Jakucionis said after the game. “You never know when the chance (was) coming. Once [Davion Mitchell] was out, just had to be ready every time they need me and I’m trying to stay ready every time they need me.”
Jakucionis thrived in his first career start, scoring 17 points with six rebounds and four assists across 36 minutes. In fact, the Heat’s No. 20 overall draft choice made history in his first career start.
Kasparas Jakucionis made history in first Heat start:
All five of Jakucionis’ five made field goals came from 3-point range, making him the first Heat rookie to score at least 15 points with five rebounds and five made 3s in his first career start.
He is one of two Heat players to accomplish the stat line as a starter in their rookie season — joining Daequan Cook (2007-08). Tyler Herro (3x) is the only other player to record 15 points, five rebounds and five made 3s as a rookie — regardless of starter status.
“(My) teammates found me,” he said. “They were helping quite a lot. We had a lot of sprays. We could even use more when we drive to the paint. We could use way more sprays and find open shots.”
It remains to be seen whether or not Jakucionis continues to get any more rotation run in the near future. But when he was thrown into the fire, he responded as well as anyone could’ve possibly hoped.
Jakucionis did a good job defensively at the point-of-attack — especially on Jaylen Brown. Yes, he did bite on a few pump fakes, but he didn’t make it easy for Boston’s guards. Additionally, he had 15 potential assists (despite recording four actual assists) to just one turnover.
As long as he continues to get stronger while fine tuning his ball-handling, foot speed and jumper, the sky is the limit for the Heat rookie.
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This kid and Ware are the future of the Heat. They and possibly a couple of current role players, will be the only ones left on the team five years from now. Bam and Herro are the only ones left from the 2020 Finals team.
Note: Dru Smith and Keshad Johnson are the only undrafted players left from the past two years. Furthermore, of the numerous undrafted players Miami has brought in over the past 5 years, only Max Strus and Duncan Robinson have made a significant impact since leaving Miami. Gabe Vincent, Orlando Robinson, Haywood Highsmith, Caleb Martin, Jamal Cain, DeWayne Dedmon, Omer Yurtseven, etc., not so much.
Add airplane mode in.
He left Miami just over 5 years ago.
He was pretty impressive. I liked what I saw.