The Bucks didn’t just land a name in the blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo deal. They also picked up a 19-year-old guard who already sounds like he’s approaching the move with the right mindset.
Kasparas Jakučionis came to Milwaukee as part of the trade that sent Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat, and the early returns suggest the Bucks believe they got more than a throw-in. Jakučionis was the No. 20 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and spent his rookie season in Miami, where he played 53 games, averaged 6.2 points and shot 42.3% from 3-point range.
That production was enough to make him a meaningful piece in the negotiations. Miami reportedly tried to swap Davion Mitchell into the package instead of Jakučionis, but Milwaukee passed. The Bucks clearly viewed him as part of their future, and the Heat eventually included him in the deal.
For Jakučionis, the trade hit hard at first. Speaking to Donatas Urbonas for BasketNews after an exhibition game while preparing to play for his national team in the FIBA World Cup 2027 European qualifiers, he didn’t hide how he felt.
"Yeah, the first day definitely wasn't easy," Jakučionis said. "I was thinking about it a lot, but then you realize this is a business and there's only so much you can control.
So I'm trying to focus on what I can control, which is putting in the work and becoming a better version of myself every day. I'm not trying to spend too much time thinking about everything else."
He said the first day was especially tough because it was the first time in his basketball career he’d been traded without it being his choice. Even so, he isn’t treating the move like a setback.
"Like I said, the first day was tough because it was the first time in my basketball career that something like this happened to me, being traded without it being my decision. But I don't think it's a bad thing. It's a young organization with a lot of young players, so I think it will be a good situation for me."
There was already a glimpse of what Milwaukee may be getting. In his debut against Ukraine, Jakučionis posted a double-double with 12 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds and 2 steals in a little over 30 minutes.
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