The NBA fun is ratcheted up this season with so many Illinois basketball players throughout the landscape.
This past NBA Draft, the Miami Heat was lucky enough to get former Illini guard Kasparas Jakucionis to fall to them at pick No. 20. He is going to be a nice guard piece to help stabilize a fairly unsteady backcourt for the Heat.
Since getting drafted, Jakucionis has dealt with some injuries. Well, one of those injuries is now delaying his debut with Miami.
According to Cody Taylor of USA Today’s Rookie Wire, Jakucionis is going to miss the Heat’s first two games of the season. Miami is taking on the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night, and they will then head to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies on Friday.
Thankfully, the injury isn’t serious, according to Taylor. Jakucionis has been dealing with a right groin injury for a couple of weeks, and that is what is hampering him from starting the 2025-26 campaign. In the report, Jakucionis is listed as day-to-day.
So, the first potential sighting of Jakucionis on the court is Sunday, October 26, against the New York Knicks. That is the first home game for the Heat. My guess is that Miami waits until Tuesday, October 28, against Charlotte to unleash the rookie guard. That would give him ample time to heal up.
Miami Heat is void of quality point guard play with Kasparas Jakucionis out with injury
The starting lineup for Miami on opening night isn’t terrible. The backcourt consists of incumbent Davion Mitchell and offseason addition Norman Powell. Both are good players in their own right, but neither has the true point guard gene.
Miami is also unleashing Dru Smith at point guard. He gave Miami some good minutes off the bench against the Magic, but he isn’t the scoring threat that of Jakucionis.
The debut of the former Illini great is coming soon. Don’t expect it in the next couple of games, but entering next week, we will see Jakucionis on the court.