Miami Heat rookie Kasparas Jakucionis shared a heartfelt moment during Summer League when he revealed his admiration for LeBron James, calling the Lakers star his childhood hero.
In an interview with Sportskeeda’s Mark Medina, Jakucionis described James as “a complete basketball player” and “the true leader” while smiling and recalling memories of watching him growing up.
“When I was little, he was my hero,” Jakucionis said. “He does everything for the team to win. He’s a winning guy. He’s involving other players in the game. He can score whenever he wants. He defends. Basically, he is the true leader.”
The Heat selected Jakucionis with the 20th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft after his lone season at Illinois, where he averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. He signed a four-year, $17.7 million contract with Miami on July 1.
During the California Classic, the Lithuanian guard struggled with his shot but bounced back in Las Vegas with sharper performances.
Jakucionis also reflected on how facing James and the Lakers in the upcoming season will be a dream come true, given the impact James had on inspiring his own basketball journey.
Before arriving in the NBA, Jakucionis gained experience playing for FC Barcelona and in Lithuania’s second division. His limited professional minutes overseas gave way to a breakout year in college, where he impressed scouts with his playmaking and competitiveness.
Now in Miami, Jakucionis is focused on improving his game and helping the Heat build on last season’s playoff run. His admiration for James, however, remains a motivating factor as he prepares to share the floor with his idol for the first time.
The Heat’s matchups against the Lakers this season will offer Jakucionis the chance to compete directly with the player he called his hero — a moment years in the making for the 19-year-old guard.
