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Knicks guard Rokas Jokubaitis is looking to turn disappointment with the Lithuanian national team missing out on qualifying for the Summer Olympics in Paris into the joy of cracking an NBA roster with good play in the Summer League.
And after scoring 16 points on 7-for-7 shooting (2-for-2 from three) with five assists, two steals and a rebound in 21 minutes off the bench in the Summer League Knicks’ 106-105 win over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, the guard isn’t letting this opportunity go to waste.
“With years of maturity, experience I have from Europe, I think I’m ready,” Jokubaitis said, via The New York Post. “And I would like to come here.”
Jokubaitis, the No. 34 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, is in Las Vegas for just the second time, after spending the past two offseasons and three seasons playing for Barcelona, where he averaged 7.4 points on 56.6 percent shooting with 2.8 assists and 1.5 rebounds in 17.7 minutes in 32 league games last year.
And the 6-foot-4 guard has earned praise from Knicks’ Summer League head coach Dice Yoshimoto.
“I like his decision-making. I like how he got downhill making the plays. I think his defense has gotten better. Those are things I’d like to see more of. Him playing at the high level in Europe, obviously, he has gotten better,” he said, via Newsday.
In his three games this summer, the 23-year-old is averaging 9.3 points (on 71 percent shooting) with 2.7 assists in 17 minutes. On his performance Wednesday, Yoshimoto said Jokubaitis was “aggressive on both sides of the floor.”
“He got into the ball better. He’s understanding the defensive schemes better. He’s done a great job so far watching the film,” the coach said.
Of course, his play this summer is only one factor in determining his playing future. The Knicks’ crowded backcourt is a much greater stumbling block.
There likely isn’t space for him on Tom Thibodeau‘s squad with Jalen Brunson, Miles McBride, Donte DiVincenzo with defined roles and the newly added Mikal Bridges and Cam Payne to work into the mix. And, of course, there is this year’s…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/knicks-guard-rokas-jokubaitis-believes-021500381.html
Author : SNY
Publish date : 2024-07-18 02:15:00
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