Knicks Draft Stash and the New Team Reach a Long-Term Agreement.
After receiving no offer from the New York Knicks, Rokas Jokubaitis will rejoin Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Euroleague.
Wednesday, July 24, was the official announcement of Jokubaitis’ signing by the Israeli ball club, after the Lithuanian guard spent time with the Knicks Summer League team.
Jokubaitis has a three-year contract extension, according to Maccabi Tel Aviv.
“I’m thrilled and eager to begin performing for you, one of the greatest supporters in Europe,” Jokubaitis exclaimed in a video that Maccabi Tel Aviv uploaded to their X account. “I appreciate the management, coaching staff, and players for believing in me. I’m overjoyed and eager for the season to begin.
The Oklahoma City Thunder selected Jokubaitis 34th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. In return for Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (32nd overall pick), the Knicks received his rights and Miles McBride (36th overall pick).
The 23-year-old Jokubaitis played his final three seasons for Barcelona, where he won the Spanish Cup and was recognized as the 2022 Euroleague Rising Star. Jokubaitis and Barcelona decided to part ways this summer in order for the Spanish ball club to concentrate on Juan Nuñez, the San Antonio Spurs’ 36th overall pick in the most recent NBA Draft, for the upcoming campaign.
A glimpse of Rokas Jokubaitis’ NBA Summer League
Jokubaitis took advantage of his summertime shot with the Knicks.
During the 2024 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, the 6-foot-4 Lithuanian guard averaged 9.8 points, 3.8 assists, and 3.0 turnovers in 19.1 minutes off the bench for the Knicks. Over the course of five Summer League games, he added 1.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals.
Jokubaitis reportedly declared in Las Vegas, according to the New York Post, “I think I’m ready with years of maturity and experience I have from Europe.” “And I’d like to see this place. This basketball and European basketball differ greatly in many aspects. Here, the main goal is to feel your teammates rather than focus on rules or gameplay.
Thus, having knowledge of as many basketball [styles] as feasible is beneficial to me. I want to play as much basketball as I can in Europe and America because I have no idea where I’ll end up playing.”
The Knicks’ Congested Backcourt
Regretfully, after acquiring Tyler Kolek—the 34th overall choice of the most recent NBA Draft—in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers and signing veteran Cam Payne, the Knicks will have no room for Jokubaitis in the forthcoming campaign.
The Knicks have a crowded backcourt with the addition of the rookie point guard and the nine-year veteran to McBride and All-NBA point guard Jalen Brunson.
According to SNY’s Ian Begley, Kolek started ahead of Jokubaitis in the NBA Summer League and was good enough to pass Payne in the Knicks point guard hierarchy going into training camp.
With an average of 7.0 assists per game—the highest of any player who has participated in five games in the Las Vegas tournament this year—the deft playmaker from Marquette stole the show in the NBA Summer League. For the Knicks, he averaged 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals.
Kolek will still need to compete, though, to secure a spot in the starting lineup for both the preseason and training camp.
“Will Tom Thibodeau use Kolek in his starting lineup? I’m not aware of the response to that query. Donte DiVincenzo, Josh Hart, and the unidentified backup center for the Knicks can all be added to Thibodeau’s rotation. After Payne’s signing, Miles McBride is expected to be a regular member of the Knicks’ rotation. Thus, Begley said, Thibodeau would have to increase his rotation to eleven players in order to play Kolek.
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