January 9th, 2018. An ordinary day for some… but not for Rokas Jokubaitis.
The then 17-year-old scored 31 points for Žalgiris Kaunas youth team against Vytautas Prienai Birštonas, a team that made waves in the US sports media after signing LaMelo Ball, who now plays for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA. At times, Lithuania’s basketball hope and the 3rd overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft went against each other, and Rokas looked like an adult playing a scrimmage against a kid who stepped on a basketball court for the first time.
That day put Rokas Jokubaitis on the map not only in Lithuania but also in the States. The now-Barcelona point guard remembers the game as one that helped him improve as a basketball player.
‘For me, this game was the biggest one because a lot of people and NBA scouts saw it, and I played very well.
’After the game, it seemed like everyone knew about me much more, and in this case, it helped me a lot,’ Rokas explained.
He drew the attention of many international scouts across the ocean. Jonathan Givony, an international scout for ESPN, was impressed by Jokubaitis’s feel for the game, particularly in pick-and-roll situations. He noted that his shooting form needs improvement, but he makes up for his flaws with impressive work on the defensive end.
When asked if he read the initial scouting reports from senior journalists and ESPN scouts about his splendid display against top talent and how they made him feel, Rokas started laughing.
‘I tried a couple of times,” Jokubaitis revealed. ‘You know, after the game, you read every opinion from ESPN scouts, and when you see a lot of positive things written about your game, it’s a great feeling.’
Now Rokas is coached by Šarūnas Jasikevičius, one of the most polarizing figures in European basketball. A four-time Euroleague champion and former point guard for the Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors, Jasikevičius gave Rokas his pro debut for Žalgiris Kaunas, his boyhood club. He brought Jokubaitis with him to sunny Barcelona after spending five years with the Lithuanian giants.
Jasikevičius during his playing days was known as a crafty and intelligent floor general and now he shares his valuable experience with the young and rising basketball star.
‘Rokas came here with the idea to play every available minute,’ Jasikevičius explained when asked about Jokubaitis’s development. ‘He is one of those players who pushes our leaders during training sessions, and considering his game time and hard work, Rokas is constantly improving – we want to develop him into one of the best guards in Europe in three years.’
The player himself is heavily influenced by his coach, who is a national hero in Lithuania. Šaras is loved by everyone.
His tireless efforts during the 2003 European Championship helped the Baltic Pearl win their first gold medal after gaining independence from the Soviet Union. It is impossible to forget his four three-pointers against the star-studded United States side in the 2004 Olympic Games – Lithuania became the first team to beat “The Dream Team” after professionals were allowed to represent the US in the Olympics.
Rokas cannot be more thankful for the opportunity to learn from one of the greatest guards in European basketball history.
‘If I had not played for this coach in Žalgiris, I don’t know where I would be,’ Jokubaitis wondered. ’I’ve got a very good opportunity with this system, with this coach – for me, as a young player, it’s great to play in Šarūnas Jasikevičius’s team.
‘Every day, you learn something from him, every time he has something to say about your game – some criticism, even encouragement at times,’ Jokubaitis noted.
In 2021, Jokubaitis was selected 34th overall in the NBA Draft by the New York Knicks franchise, one of the most historic teams in the modern NBA.
Hearing your name called as one of the sixty players in the NBA draft feels like a dream come true,’ Jokubaitis confessed to Hud News. ‘We were expecting to be picked at 39, so I didn’t expect to be drafted this early. Like a real Lithuanian, I didn’t set any expectations, so the 34th draft pick made me very happy.’
When asked about his main goal, Rokas remained humble and modest with his career aspirations.
‘Of course, everyone’s top goal is the NBA, but I believe I am still far away from it. For me, the latest checkpoint for my career is Euroleague – to become a good league player in a good team, and then we’ll see.’
It seems like a matter of time before Rokas Jokubaitis solves the point guard problem after Jasikevičius’s retirement in 2014: he seems like the perfect replacement. In the words of Conor McGregor, Rokas is not here to take part – he is here to take over.
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