Kasparas Jakucionis is one of the more polarizing players in the 2025 NBA Draft, but he has clear NBA upside if he can put the tools together.
In both the 2023 and 2024 NBA Drafts, the first picks were French, becoming the second and third European-born first picks in league history, joining 2006’s Andrea Bargnani.
Both 2023 and 2024 were incredibly international classes, although as the NCAA modernizes and NIL money grows, international players have come stateside before going pro in massive numbers.
While the predicted top three picks in 2025–Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, and Ace Bailey–are all American, there is plenty of international talent to be had. VJ Edgecombe, Khaman Maluach, and Egor Demin are some of the frontrunners, but guard Kasparas Jakucionis has been rising up draft boards.
In a loaded class with talent from all over the world, Jakucionis could be the first international player to have his name called, and will almost certainly be the first European.
- Age/Date of Birth: 18 (May 29, 2006)
- Height/weight: 6-foot-6, 205lbs
- College: Illinois Fighting Illini
- Career stats: 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 0.9 steals, 3.7 turnovers, 44.0 FG%, 31.8 3PT%
- NCAA Tournament stats: 14.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 6.0 turnovers, 33.3 FG%, 20.0 3PT%
- Career highs: 24 points (vs. Wisconsin, vs. Minnesota, vs. UCLA), 13 rebounds (vs. Nebraska), 13 assists (vs. SIU Edwardsville)
- NBA comparison: Bigger Kyle Lowry
Jakucionis plays with a very high motor and makes up for his lack of athleticism with an ability to go the extra mile. He can pass with the best of them and is always looking to set up his teammates, which should give him a boost at the next level.
In college, his 3-point shooting left a lot to be desired, but in the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket Tournament, he shot slightly better, and his career mark in college of 84.5% from the free-throw line should give confidence that the shot won’t be a long-term concern.
As a lead guard, he can dribble through traffic and either kick the ball out or dump it off to a dunker. He isn’t the best at getting above the rim, but he can finish through traffic and take some contact if needed, so his scoring, which seems versatile, shouldn’t take too big of a hit in his rookie season.
He is not a sure-thing, but he can run the offense at a high level and if his offense becomes more well-rounded, he could be one of the better players in the draft.
Jakucionis is far from the perfect prospect. He makes questionable choices, especially when passing. If his risky passes convert, he looks like a right-handed Manu Ginobili, but his whopping 3.7 turnovers per game and 12 total in March Madness suggest he might be a bit wilder than even Manu.
On defense, he isn’t a total liability, but he is a tad slow, which means he won’t be able to stop the shifter guards in the NBA. He also isn’t strong enough to move up a position and guard forwards, so one of those problems will need to be solved.
His outside shooting could and likely will improve, but there’s no guarantee, so that will likely be a concern as well. Still, for a floor general and off-the-dribble scorer, he has most of the tools.
Jakucionis is expected to be drafted in the top ten, with the likelihood that he could go in the top five. That means a bad team will take him, although not every situation would bring out the best in him.
He would do his best next to a true scoring guard and a few high-level wings, and like most lead guards would benefit from having a pick-and-roll threat.
The Utah Jazz, with Keyonte George in the backcourt and a healthy Taylor Hendricks or John Collins, would fit the bill. Collin Sexton and Lauri Markkanen just offer more advantages.
The Toronto Raptors would also be a good fit. Jakucionis could share ball-handling duties with RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley, allowing Scottie Barnes to be more of a slasher and catch-and-shoot threat. Toronto, unlike Utah, has enough positive defenders to make up for any weaknesses.
Fans should expect Jakucionis to take some time before he hits or even reveals his true potential, and he will not be a win-now player like some rookies in the class.
