Miami Heat guard Kasparas Jakucionis (25) drives the ball as Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) defends in the first half of their NBA game at Kaseya Center on Jan. 28, 2026, in Miami. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
As the Miami Heat’s season continues to trend in the wrong direction, Heat rookie guard Kasparas Jakucionis’ season continues to trend in the right direction.
The Heat’s ongoing injury issues have led to more losses than wins lately, but those absences have also led to the recent emergence of Jakucionis after spending the first part of his rookie season in the G League. Entering Wednesday night’s matchup against the Pelicans in New Orleans, Jakucionis has played in 27 of the Heat’s last 29 games after logging only 53.7 seconds in the NBA through the Heat’s first 26 games of the season.
This stretch has been far from perfect, but some of Jakucionis’ best games have come recently in large part because he’s improving as a three-point shooter. The two highest-scoring games of Jakucionis’ young career have come in the two games leading up to Wednesday’s contest in New Orleans, scoring 22 points on perfect 6-of-6 shooting from three-point range in Sunday’s win against the Washington Wizards and 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting from behind the arc in Monday’s loss to the Utah Jazz.
“Kas is part of the young gun crew,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said of Jakucionis, 19. “He has great vision. He’s fearless, so he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know right now. And he’s going to try to make plays, which we like. But he has a vision that is a different level of kind of creativity. He can see passes, and they can deliver on point. And Kas, because of his work ethic, he’s going to continue to get better.”
Known for his playmaking and point guard skills when the Heat drafted Jakucionis with the 20th overall pick last year, his three-point shooting has been encouraging, albeit at a low volume because of his limited minutes. He entered Wednesday shooting an efficient 36 of 77 (46.8%) from three-point range this season, proving he can play in an off-ball role when needed because of his quality spot-up shooting.
Among the 279 players who entered Wednesday with at least 70 three-point attempts this season, Jakucionis owns the fourth-best three-point percentage.
“I love Kas, man. He’s such a hard worker,” Heat guard Norman Powell said. “I mean, he’s doing two, three workouts before shootarounds and before practice. I think the sky is the limit for him, just his approach, his mentality. He’s very mature for his age. He’s very focused and very locked in. I think it shows. He’s been put into the starting lineup when guys have been hurt. He’s been able to play and showcase his ability and why this organization loves him so much. I’m really excited for him.”
In addition to his improved three-point shooting, Jakucionis has flashed his intriguing potential as a playmaking guard who also has opened eyes with his hustle and physicality on both ends of the court during his minutes this season. He entered Wednesday with 66 assists to 26 turnovers in his rookie season.
“He always has that fearless mentality,” Powell continued on Jakucionis, with the Heat entering the week-long NBA All-Star break following Wednesday’s matchup against the Pelicans. “No matter who he’s going up against, he’s going to pressure, he’s going to play his game, and he’s going to attack. I always tell him when he’s out there, make mistakes being aggressive. That’s what was told to me when I was at his age, to go out there and play free, aggressive, and good basketball. He has a high IQ, so it’s no surprise to me.”
Powell isn’t the only Heat veteran who has been impressed by Jakucionis’ recent play.
“He’s been amazing,” Heat forward Andrew Wiggins said. “Both sides of the floor. Picking up full court, hitting big shots. He’s been big time for us.”
With guards Tyler Herro (ribs), Pelle Larsson (right forearm strain) and Powell (low back tightness) among those again out for the Heat on Wednesday against the Pelicans, Jakucionis’ opportunity to play amid the team’s injury issues will continue.
“I just try to stay ready,” Jakucionis said. “Whenever I have the opportunity, I try to embrace it and try to stay ready whenever I can.”
STRONG FACE
While Heat forward Nikola Jovic continues to struggle this season, Spoelstra wants him to keep a “strong face.”
“He’s working on it, and you just want to have that strong face always throughout the course of competition,” Spoelstra said of Jovic following Wednesday’s morning shootaround in New Orleans. “We like him shooting open shots, being aggressive offensively. You can’t control always whether the ball is going to go in or not. His process behind the scenes has been solid the last three weeks. He’s been putting in the time and that’s what you can control. He’s working on it, working on the strong face at all times.”
Jovic averaged career highs in points (10.7 per game), assists (2.8) and minutes (25.1) while shooting 45.6 percent from the field and 37.1 percent on threes last season. But Jovic’s production is down across the board in his fourth NBA season after signing a four-year, $62.4 million extension with the Heat in October.
Jovic entered Wednesday’s game against the Pelicans averaging just 7.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 36.5 percent from the field and 26.9% from three-point range this season. Among the 172 players around the NBA who entered Wednesday with at least 150 three-point attempts this season, Jovic holds the worst three-point shooting percentage.
“I think I just am true to myself,” Jovic, 22, said. “Does it look good? Probably not. But I’m working on it. I think it’s a smart thing from them, telling me that I should maybe look better, and look better for the others, and help. So I’m just working on it. But I don’t think it’s any big issue.”