Heat’s First Round Draft Pick Struggles Mightily in NBA Summer League Debut originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Miami Heat fans were eager to see their first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Kasparas Jakucionis, make his mark in the NBA Summer League, but his debut on Saturday evening left much to be desired. 

As highlighted in an X post shared by HeatMuse, the Lithuanian rookie, who many have deemed as the steal of the draft, posted a modest stat line of three points, one rebound, one assist, and three turnovers, shooting a dismal 1-7 from the field and 0-4 from beyond the arc. 

The 14.3% field goal percentage highlighted a challenging first step into professional basketball. Jakucionis, who honed his skills with FC Barcelona and the Illinois Fighting Illini before joining the Heat, faced high expectations following his draft selection. 

However, his performance in the California Classic was a slight cause for concern, prompting fans and analysts alike to be skeptical of what his rookie season has in store. 

Eric Glass, the Heat responsible for coaching the Summer League team, has drawn scrutiny for his utilization of Jakucionis, with calls for him to play more as a point guard to leverage his skills. 

Despite the rough debut, comparisons to Victor Wembanyama’s own 2-13 Summer League start offer hope that this is merely a learning curve. 

As the Vegas Summer League looms, the Heat’s development staff faces the task of refining Jakucionis’s game, focusing on methodical shot selection and decision-making.

For now, this debut serves as a humbling reminder that even top prospects need time. Heat Nation remains optimistic, viewing this as the start of a marathon, not a sprint, for their promising rookie.

Related: Heat Receive Major Update on Jonathan Kuminga Sweepstakes

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.