El Barcelona I lived a new night of ecstasy with the tight victory against him Euroleague“>Anadolu Efes by 82-77. The meeting served to encumbrar a Rokas Jokubaitis, a new young idol of the Barça fans who can join those of the football section. The Lithuanian base from 21 to was decisive with seven points in the last six minutes, including a 2 + 1 in the absence of 21 seconds that closed the match. The boy does not wrinkle.
Jokubaitis acab con 16 points, which is his best scoring of his career in the Euroleague. “It is a great achievement and I hope that in the future it will go further,” he said after the match. This season, the first at Bara since he signed last summer, averages 8.9 points and 3.4 assists. However, it has been since Nick Calathes’ injury when the young man has stepped forward to respond to the confidence of his coach and compatriot Conversation Jasikevicius. Since matchday 11, when He stopped playing the Greek, he averaged 10.8 points and 4.3 assists.
Rokas Jokubaitis tries to block Sergio Llull during a Classic.
The technician does not hesitate to praise him: “He is maturing a lot. Some misfortune that we have had with injuries, especially not having Calathes, have given him an advantage and he is taking advantage of opportunities. Well, more than taking opportunities he is leading us to victories. . We already have many parties in which Rokas decides “.
The Lithuanian prodigy measures 1.93 meters, has a extremely powerful lower body that allows him to stand under the rival rim and finish with skill, he has a much improved grimace that makes him be Bara’s best three-point player in the Euroleague (55.6%) and in each game he leaves flashes of genius, especially in his penetrations with the left. “In three years I hope he will become one of the best point guards in Europe. That’s my idea, “says Jasikevicius.
The NBA threat
It is precisely that projection that could keep him away from Barcelona. I signed until 2025, but the NBA threat is already present. Was chosen by the Thunder ranked 34th in last year’s draft, but that same night it was sent to the Knicks, which they enjoyed during the Summer league before joining the Barça team. The American League, always on the lookout for the young European jewels, does not take its eyes off him.
Last year, Jokubaitis was already among the best projects in the Euroleague. Playing for him Zalgiris he averaged 7.0 points and 2.5 assists. I finished second in the race for the award of the Rising Star just behind the back then Real Madrid player Usman Garuba, now in the Rockets.
Admirer of two other left-handed point guards like him, Zoran Dragic and Dimitris DiamantidisThe Lithuanian grew up in a very basketball environment, not only at the national level, since basketball is a religion in the country, but also a family one. So much with padre, Aivar, as his mother and sister have also played. His father became a professional and in summer he usually does training with him. Genes and their teachings were the first step in building a foundation that goes thrown to the top of europe.
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