About this decision, the 20-year-old Milwaukee Bucks point guard announced at the organized camp “Make a Play”.
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“I won’t be in this window, I always want to participate, but I will have to miss the games. Rimas Kurtinaitis came with coach Tomas Pačėsas. I always wanted to and will want to, but there are other teams that decide. I have to be in Milwaukee at the beginning of August. There will be a camp at the end of August. No chance to be there,” K. Jakučionis told journalists.
The next selection window will be a crucial one for the Lithuanian men’s basketball team. After a painful loss in Italy, Rimas Kurtinaitis’ trainees won 3 games and lost 3 in the first stage.
After that, a wave of criticism arose against the president of the Lithuanian Basketball Association (LBA), Mindaugas Balčiūnas, and the team’s head coach. Although a real storm raged in the basketball sky, it certainly did not add a positive impulse to the team.
I won’t be in this window, I always want to participate, but now I will have to miss the games
In the upcoming qualifying games against Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is not yet known which players will participate. 15min journalist Rokas Pakėnas tried to piece together the future lineup puzzle.
Earlier, the Lithuanian Basketball Association (LBA) stated that the team’s playmaker would help in the next window, but a hint of doubt was left. That doubt has now come true.
“I believe it is possible to qualify for the World Championship. If there are chances, you have to believe. It’s not like we already missed the championship,” the point guard explained.
A famous representative of the Lithuanian basketball world, scout, NBA champion, and host of the “B8 Summit” basketball conference Benas Matkevičius supported the boycott idea.
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R. Kurtinaitis responded to him sharply, and Antanas Sireika called it a crime.
“No one urged me not to go, I can’t say anything. I always want to go, but now I can’t. I don’t know about others, I haven’t talked much. To be honest, I haven’t followed the news much,” said K. Jakučionis.
Traded from Miami Heat to the Bucks, K. Jakučionis will sweat in the new team’s preseason camp in August.
In his debut NBA season, he played 53 games (12 starts) and averaged 6.2 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.6 rebounds in 18 minutes.
Now he played in the NBA Summer League with the Bucks. In two games, the Vilnius native averaged 9 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 5 assists.
The team’s coach Taylor Jenkins came to Italy to watch him.
“I’m definitely not happy with my play in the Summer League. I tried to get to know the coaches and feel their playing style. It’s a different team than the Bucks. There isn’t much time to prepare. I played a few games and that’s it. I’m not happy with my play, but I was happy for the opportunity,” K. Jakučionis said about his Summer League play and continued.
– Coach T. Jenkins is very communicative, wants to talk. He talks a lot, I ask a lot of questions myself. Such communication is definitely beneficial.
The Milwaukee club is now entering a rebuilding era. Having traded the team’s star, Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Wisconsin club, although it has no picks in the next draft, will now build the roster with young, hungry players.
K. Jakučionis will also have a big role here. Although, as mentioned, he does not yet have a defined role.
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