CHAMPAIGN — Kasparas Jakucionis and Will Riley played against each for the first time in their still-new NBA careers on Feb. 8 in Washington, D.C.
A matchup that might have gone overlooked by the NBA world at large between a middle-of-the-pack Eastern Conference team and the team with the second-worst record in the entire league, but one that resonated with Illinois fans.
Jakucionis’ Miami Heat rolled in a 132-101 victory against Riley’s Washington Wizards. The Heat rookie scored a career-high 22 points to go with six assists and three rebounds. His former Illini teammate put up nine points off the bench for the Wizards.
The timing of the game a few days before the NBA All-Star break gave Jakucionis and Riley an opportunity to discuss their plans for the only gap in an otherwise jam-packed schedule. Zero coordination ensued, but both made it clear part of their long weekend off was going to be spent in Champaign.
So, that’s how Jakucionis and Riley wound up in front-row baseline seats this past Sunday afternoon at State Farm Center. The former Illini got an up-close look at the current version of the team and got to celebrate afterward following Illinois’ 71-51 victory against Indiana — just more than a year after their own win against the Hoosiers.
“This is my home,” Jakucionis said. “Even if I was here for only one year, it feels like home. To be honest, it feels like I never left. It’s only the best emotions. I really enjoyed the time here and the people here — the fans are just incredible — so I’m so happy to be back.”
It was old home week in Champaign.
Coleman Hawkins used a fortuitous G League schedule to make the trip to Champaign for the Illinois-Wisconsin game before heading back to the Chicago suburbs for the Grand Rapids Gold’s game against the Windy City Bulls the next night. Terrence Shannon Jr. spent most of the NBA All-Star break in Champaign working out with the current team before leaving ahead of Sunday’s game.
Dain Dainja was also in attendance to see Illinois knock off Indiana.
The only NBA pro missing was Ayo Dosunmu. Per Illinois coach Brad Underwood, the former Illini All-American used the All-Star break to get settled in Minneapolis after being moved from the Chicago Bulls to the Minnesota Timberwolves at the trade deadline.
“To me, that’s what this thing’s all about,” Underwood said about his former players returning to campus. “They’re all finding their way. Terrence, unfortunately, has been hurt, dealt with some foot stuff, and just came back and had a big game in his last game down in the G League.
“Then we’re seeing Will and Kasparas just grow into their roles and figure out what NBA life is like. Just as excited as heck for those guys. They’re all great human beings and great teammates. Now they’re finding their way.”
Riley was thrust into an immediate role on the rebuilding Wizards this season. The No. 21 overall pick, who wound up with Washington via a draft night trade with the Utah Jazz, has made two starts out of 45 games played. The 6-foot-9 wing entered the All-Star break on a roll, averaging 15.4 points on 42/41/71 shooting to go with four rebounds and three assists per game in his last seven games.
“Honestly, you have one good game and you have to build off that,” Riley said. He set a career-high with 27 points against the Brooklyn Nets the night before he faced Jakucionis and the Heat.
“Take the confidence from that game and put it to the next and keep doing the same thing, keep sticking to your same routine,” Riley continued. “I’ve gotten a lot more on-ball reps now on the team. I’ve just been trying to find my role, honestly, competing as much as I can on defense.”
Riley and Jakucionis both credit their time at Illinois for creating a foundation for them to build a career in the NBA. Even if they both ultimately spent less than a full calendar year in Champaign.
“It was only one year and I’m kind of young, but I think it prepared me very well because of Brad’s teaching points and the overall basketball level,” the 19-year-old Jakucionis said.
“This place taught me so much,” Riley added. “How to deal with so many different types of emotions. How to find your role on a team. How to grind. It couldn’t have prepared me any better, this place.”
Jakucionis had a slow start to his professional career. A wrist sprain during training camp limited him to just two preseason games. Then he suffered a groin strain in early October that sidelined him for multiple games at the beginning of the season.
Eight games with the Sioux Falls Skyforce — Miami’s G League affiliate — served as a launching pad back to the Heat roster for Jakucionis. He averaged 16.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.6 assists in the G League Tip-Off Tournament, teaming with Dainja, before making his NBA debut on Dec. 18.
Like Riley, Jakucionis got on a roll leading into the All-Star break thanks to an uptick in playing time. The 6-6 guard averaged 17.7 points, 3.7 assists and three rebounds, while shooting 62 percent from three-point range as he earned more playing time because of his production.
“(Playing in the G League) helped a lot to just get some rhythm back and just get some real basketball,” Jakucionis said. “With time, I feel more and more comfortable and just try to work out every time I can be the best version of myself.”
Jakucionis and the Heat will be back in action Friday in Atlanta against the Hawks. Washington will host the Indiana Pacers for a back-to-back on Thursday and Friday.
The next time the two former Illinois standouts will face each other will be March 10 in Miami. A chance for Riley to even the series against his one-time teammate.
“It was crazy,” Riley said about facing Jakucionis for the first time. “It was very fun. Obviously, he had an amazing game. He killed us.”
As low key as always, Jakucionis said the matchup with Riley was fun.
“I’m just glad we won,” he said with a smile.