The first part of the NBA Summer League tips off this weekend, and former Illinois basketball guard Kasparas Jakucionis will take center stage.
Jakucionis was selected No. 20 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft just weeks ago, and now the Illini star will attempt to make the Miami Heat a true contender once again.
The Heat need a boost of energy and excitement, as most of their fans are a bit annoyed that the team isn’t making moves despite Pat Riley saying that there would be changes. So far, the only big change has been losing one of the best shooters in franchise history, Duncan Robinson.
Jakucionis will look to turn the tide, though. He is going to be a focal point of their Summer League team, and that all starts on Saturday.
Kasparas Jakucionis Summer League schedule with the Miami Heat
- Game 1 – San Antonio Spurs vs Miami Heat (California Classic Summer League) – 4:30 p.m. ET; Saturday, July 5 (NBA TV)
- Game 2 – Los Angeles Lakers vs Miami Heat (California Classic Summer League) – 4:30 p.m. ET; Sunday, July 6 (NBA TV)
- Game 3 – Miami Heat vs Golden State Warriors (California Classic Summer League) – 7:00 p.m. ET; Tuesday, July 8 (ESPN+)
- Game 4 – Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat (NBA 2K26 Summer League) – 4:30 p.m. ET; Friday, July 11 (ESPN 2)
- Game 5 – Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA 2K26 Summer League) – 7:30 p.m. ET; Sunday, July 13 (NBA TV)
- Game 6 – Boston Celtics vs Miami Heat (NBA 2K26 Summer League) – 8:00 p.m. ET; Monday, July 14 (ESPN U)
- Game 7 – Detroit Pistons vs Miami Heat (NBA 2K26 Summer League) – 4:00 p.m. ET; Thursday, July 17 (NBA TV)
Jakucionis will have a few players suiting up with him who are familiar to most Illinois fans, too. Former Illinois big man Dain Dainja is also on the Miami Summer League roster. It will be interesting to see if they have chemistry with the pick-and-roll. It seems like they would work well together.
The Heat also have a couple of former Indiana big men suiting up. Oumar Ballo from last season and Kel’el Ware from a couple of years ago are both on the roster. Michigan big man Vlad Goldin is also on the roster.