Lithuanian Point Guards

[zalias]

jakucionis hype is real, most respectable mock drafts ive seen put him in top 10, calling him possibly the best point guard in this class.whats funny is there is absolutely nothing about that in lithuania, you could probably ask an average lithuanian fan about jakucionis and they wouldnt know who he is, media has done a horrible job covering him. jokubaitis hype was 10 times bigger while being a 3 times worse prosepect, but maybe its for the best.

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Killer. One of the biggest next guards in the game overall. His step back three is a deadly. His facilitation is nothing short but special. He rebounds. I called Sabonis baby Jokic once when soome people thought I'm crazy (and eventually he became MVP candidate). Now I easily call KJ baby Doncic. He has a potential to be an all star one day in the NBA. First Lithuanian guard as an All Star would be cool. Once Dragic made All NBA. KJ can reach that too.

KJ will be better shooter than Doncic. I believe he can be. His shooting form is better and smoother than Luka's and his feet work is just as outstanding as Luka's generally in the step back three situations. Doncic is considered the best step back three shooter in the game and Jakucionis has a chance to be better at it. Now shoots 43% with 4.4a. Doncic takes almost 10 threes per game, but making only 34%. I believe one day Jakucionis will be taking 6-8 threes in the game and will be making 40%. I can see that. Doncic is a freak and KJ ooff course will never reach his leve;, but he can be a baby Doncic and his level should be around Dragic. In comparison with Dragic, KJ will be better shooter, better facilitator, better rebounder, but worse slasher. Dragic had an amazing burst and ridiculous feet work. If KJ had Dragic burst he likely would be in for GOAT conversation.

https://x.com/pongas06/status/1865399632483807598

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Bleach Report already figured out KJ is the best PG in this draft class (much deeper than Buzelis' draft class). Dropped him at 6th and he should still climb higher. I can see only 2 players that KJ will struggle to push out, Cooper and Harper. But I believe NBA a bit overrates Harper. I don't see him becoming like Harden or so. Maybe, if he will develop sensationally. I don't see passing touch of Harden and shooting. To me he will be more of one dimensional explosive driver, bet off course I didn't see all that much. ESPN and Bleach Report figured out KJ can be top 5 material in very deep draft class. That's it, he's out there at the top, now he can only get so ridiculously good that he would even convince people that he can move Cooper and Harper. What if KJ will unleash +30pts, 10as, 10rbs game in the March Madness big game? He still didn't show one of his crazy games which inevitably will come, IMO, when he will take +20 shots and will have around 35pts game. Now it's between KJ's sepcial IQ, facilitation and Harper's explosiveness. Recently the former won the battle. SGA, Doncic are better than Edwards.

KJ turns on different tier in scoring when the team is playing tight game. If others shoot well he wouldn't force it, just spray the ball. But even BR still didn't get that he has 20ppg kind agame in him on a regular basis if needed. Last 3 games 22ppg. It's crazy that his true shooting and assists rate for a rookie are insane. Only Lonzo Ball (No.1 pick) and some other dude ever had it in the game of NCAA.

Comparisons? I hear Dragic, Doncic, Nash, Hinrish and now Chauncey Billups. I don't feel any particular player is a very good comparison, Kasparas is really unique.

6. Toronto Raptors: Kasparas Jakucionis


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Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images

Toronto Raptors record: 7-15

Team: Illinois

Position: PG

Size: 6'6", 200 lbs

Age: 18

Nationality: Lithuania

Pro comparison: Chauncey Billups

The eye test on Kasparas Jakucionis' playmaking backs up the numbers. He shows outstanding command in pick-and-roll situations, knowing what speeds to operate at and how to free up and hit the big. His vision is obvious on drives, and he knows where his shooters are before he make his move into the paint.

And he's also ben efficient as a scorer, using touch shots and impressive shotmaking improvisation off the dribble. Though he's not a shot-hunter who'll threaten for 20 points every night, he's done an admirable job picking his spots and capitalizing on what the defense gives up.

Right now, Jakucionis has a 67.4 true shooting percentage and 32.7 assist percentage. UCLA's Lonzo Ball and Long Island's Jason Brickman have been the only other NCAA freshmen to notch those numbers.

The competition will strengthen during conference play, but Jakucionis looked comfortable against Illinois and Arkansas early.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10145090-2025-nba-mock-draft-pro-comparisons-and-full-2-round-predictions

[zalias]

Doncic is considered the best step back three shooter in the game and Jakucionis has a chance to be better at it. ]

i like jakucionis but thats a crazy thing to say. the stepback three is luka's, the best scorer in the world, signature move, he does it more often and more accurate than any other player.

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i like jakucionis but thats a crazy thing to say. the stepback three is luka's, the best scorer in the world, signature move, he does it more often and more accurate than any other player.

Luka has an amazing step back three feet work, but his shooting form is not ideal. He raises the ball too high a bit (he takes time too launch his shot and has a bit of hold up before gathers for release, but gets away with that because of his great feet work and size) and it's not the softest touch in the world, he also has a bit active thumb on a main right hand, It's not a surprise he shoots 34% threes, even though knowing that he takes 10 per game and some really tough step backs it's still good. I can see KJ having more deadly three potentially though. To me his mechanics and form is smoother and quicker.

Three point shooting is actually one of Luka's flaws more. His penetration, mid range game and amazing facilitation what make him unstoppable offensively.

In NT he shot 31.1% 2017, 30.4% in 2020, 32.2% 2022, 32.4% 2023.

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Jakucionis in the zone already. Dropped 24pts against big team, led his team to win. Finally that nasty three and one that I was waiting He used to get at least one in a game basically. Now got couple of time fouled while shooting a three. He's the first Illini freshman to score +20 in 4 consecutive games. One long term Illini fan wrote that KJ is the best Illini freshman ever. People starting to call him NBA ready. Noceilingnba.com dropped him at 5 spot in the mock now. He becomes nearly a consensus top 5 pick and I still think he can become top 3 in the best case scenario. I can see that.

Visconsin coach said: "he's listed as a freshman, but he's not, he has more experience than typical freshman"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ChILEt5pjU&ab_channel=CBBEurope

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Sports Illustrated nailed it with tons of spot on insights on KJ:

While there are quite a few great prospects at the top of this class, Jakucionis is making his case as the top offensive player of the 2025 draft with his shooting and playmaking.

https://www.si.com/nba/draft/newsfeed/kasparas-jakucionis-climbing-boards-dominant-output

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From freshmen in last 10 NCAA seasons only 2 players did what Kasparas did in last 4 games. Second one is Trae Young.

So far I have to say KJ yet again exceeded my expectations. I thought it will be great if he will lock himself as some 18-14 pick guy. Now he's making silly trick passes, taking down step backs and playing like one of the best NCAA players as a rookie. He figured it out NCAA so fast and his developing rate is so crazy that after a month people may be speaking that he's already too good for NCAA. Unless he will hit some kind of wall. But with KJ it has been constant improvement.

https://x.com/OptaSTATS/status/1866712782928015614

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This pass alone shows why KJ is ground braking LTU BB narrative changer. Huge player emerging.

https://x.com/bjpf_/status/1866958093185323056

Cooper Flagg had a crappy game. Things getting interesting in this draft class It will be fun to follow how thing will solve out.

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Wow, massive experience for KJ against best team so far they faced Tennessee. That's the best defence and athleticism that Kasparas went on so far. They have the best defending guard in NCAA basically, all big and athletic. From highlights I see so physical fight. KJ turn the ball over a lot, heck of a school for him this game. He missed some bunnies, but also hit some big shots. 2 three and 1 shoots. He's getting there. Went to the FT line. What I liked the most he was the guy who fearlessly went to the cup in crunch. We need that kind of guard. He tied the game with FTs with 5 sec to to go, bet also the Tennessee game winning shot went through Kasparas hands, he couldn't make a winning stop defensively. I think Ivisic had to come help and lock the paint in that possession.

Defensively KJ makes some nice hustle players, but also lacks concentration. It's hard to say whenever he can reach complete 2 way presence cause when you play 37 minutes in super physical and intense game as a focal offensive player you barely can hustle in each and every play defensively. I like the upside of KJ's defense too. If he would be fully concentrated on D, I think he could evolve into elite defender. But that's not what he should be. He should be that offensive monster in the first place. I like that he's on attack mode now. We need true fucking scorers (KJ off course has everything and one of the most complete guards in the world) with scoring mentality. Enough of just pass first players or guys who don't want to score +20 each night. We need Kasparas to be +20ppg player. He brings that 5 straight games in a row.

Tighten up handles, avoid careless sissy passes, more focus defensively. That's KJs areas to work on, but the sky is endless for him. He is cementing himself into top 3 conversation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9aZMlN-jDA&ab_channel=BasketNews

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Tennesse is national no1 team in NCAA at the moment. The only one to go 8-0. Previously they swept all their opponents at least 15+ or so. Best defensive team in the game probably. When you think about it, Jakucionis dropped 33% of his teams points against them. Dude has it and he could easily end up with 30pts game if some bunnies and one more three went in. He also missed 4 three throws. KJ usually is super aggressive when the game is tight, he would just spray the assists against soft teams in a blow out. I can really see few super big games coming for him this season, like 35-40pts games. When he will nail 5-6 threes, all free throws and also will finish high in 2s. He should unleash at least couple of monster games.

https://x.com/esperandomarzo/status/1868232314582618441

And for those who think Marciulionis is not good, watch this:

https://x.com/saintmaryshoops/status/1865580273347547383

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Underwood said he gives KJ a Doncic treatment. It is really seen in last 5 games. He's taking 13,6 shots per game and in his last 4 he takes +15 shots. So he has a great light. Gotta love KJ's situation. There will be games when he will be less active or not. They nearly beat the best team in the country with him going hardcore.

"His maturity is the next play mentality," Underwood said. "He had kind of a goofy turnover the other night (against Wisconsin) where he jumped in the air and coughed it up. He has one of those a game. You just look like, 'What the heck?' It's the next play. It doesn't rattle him. It doesn't bother him."

I've kind of taken the Luka mentality a little bit," the Illinois coach said, referencing Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic. "Luka's going to turn the ball over, too, but they're making so many plays. The thing with KJ is most of them are because he's trying to make the right read. What he sees is the right play, and I'm good with those."

https://www.news-gazette.com/newsletter/content/sports/illini_basketball/good-morning-illini-nation-taking-the-bad-with-the-good/article_07bc59fa-b9ce-11ef-8ec5-ff0ad2898588.html

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OK, I unleash my final comparison of KJ. I see 3 people in him. He's the hybrid Luka, Bogi, Dragic. I see all three guys in him. Luka's step back and facilitation glimpses, Bogi's concrete universality/flexibility, Dragic' relentless motor and feet work.

Someone wrote "Kasparas Jakucionis is the LeBron James of Bogdan Bogdanović’s" and in a way it also makes certain sense to me.

Here's Tennessee assistant coach on KJ:

https://x.com/NathanielBorody/status/1866928946136355281

I hear people even mentioning Nash...but I'm not particularly see any of Nash in Kasparas. If he would be so obsesses with mid rage jimmies as Nash was...But he's not.

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KJ big 10 player of the week. His name already thrown at 3 spot. To me it's like Cooper, Harper, KJ in this draft as top 3 picks. I didn't study other players very closely, but I kinda have this impression. Again, my take is that KJ is more special than Harper, even if worse athlete. Wouldn't be a shocker if KJ turns out to be the best player of 2025 NBA class.

Someone wrote (Conrado pascual) a very spot on comment "The manner in which Kasparas Jakučionis creates separation is arguably more impressive than the shots & assists themselves… Jakučionis has incredible strength below the knees. The degree of plantarflexsion that he achieves allows him to get more arc & torque on his shots."

https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/2025-nba-mock-draft-cooper-flagg-reigns-supreme-kasparas-jakucionis-3-khaman-maluach-4?key2=905920

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Ain't no way Russian Egor Demin is better than KJ. Jakucionis will school him just as he was schooling him all previous season with Barca's jerseys. Demin is good, but he's overrated cause people don't get it he's not PG and he can't play on ball full time. Another versatile wing, forward, that's all.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/2025-nba-mock-draft-byus-egor-demin-off-to-fast-start-makes-jump-to-no-3-dukes-cooper-flagg-at-top/