The Miami Heat landed one of the steals of the 2025 NBA Draft, and he seems eager to fit in perfectly with Heat Culture.
The Miami Heat, with a first-round draft pick courtesy of the Golden State Warriors, made the best pick of the 2025 NBA Draft. Projected to go ninth overall, point guard Kasparas Jakucionis slid to 20th, where the Heat snapped him up.
Jakucionis is a hard-nosed player who, despite not being an elite defender or shooter, plays hard, physical basketball, and makes the right passes and reads.
To us, that sounds like a player who will fit in perfectly with “Heat Culture,” which values hard work and substance over flash and fame, despite enjoying four straight Finals appearances thanks to LeBron James.
Jakucionis gave fans the perfect introduction when he arrived in South Beach.
In college, Jakucionis averaged a solid 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. He doesn’t mind diving on the floor, and is a product of Real Madrid’s developmental system, which helps him play a pass-first game conducive to team success.
Alongside Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Kel’el Ware, Jakucionis could be a day-one starter for the Heat, and he sent a perfect four-word message at his first media appearance.
“I just love winning,” he said, much to the delight of Pat Riley.
Jakucionis added: “I try to do everything possible for the team to win, try to work hard and be the best version of myself for the team to win.”
The Heat, long one of the most successful teams in professional sports, lost in the first round in each of the last two seasons, and tanking is not an option.
Miami needs to win a ring without Dwyane Wade in town, and their last two Finals appearances, spearheaded by Jimmy Butler, felt more like flukes than anything.
With Jakucionis added to the roster, perhaps Miami can continue to enjoy success and take a step forward.
Despite both Herro and Adebayo being All-Stars in recent years, the Heat lack a true superstar. While you don’t expect to find a franchise-altering player late in the first round, the class of 2025 was loaded with talent, and Jakucionis could be the missing piece.
As evidenced by his NBA comparison, he has no shortage of confidence, and compared himself to Luka Doncic, especially with how he can create for the offense.
“I was watching Luka when he was still in Madrid, because I moved to Spain after that too,” he said. “So I watch his playmaking and self-shot creation.”
Those are lofty comparisons, especially when he placed it on his own shoulders. However, he embraced his ability to do the dirty work, something Doncic has shied away from.
“I like how Andrew Nembhard gives all 100% on both ends of the floor, trying to do the right plays, play the game the right way, shoot open shots,” he continued. “So I would say these two the most, but I just like to be myself.”
If he can find the middle ground between Doncic and Nembhard, it’s safe to say that the Heat will win, win, and win some more.
