Heat Sign Kasparas Jakucionis To Rookie Contract

The Miami Heat have signed 2025 first-round draft pick Kasparas Jakucionis to his rookie scale contract. Jakucionis, a guard selected 20th overall, will earn $3.66 million in the 2025/26 season and a total of $17.7 million over his first four NBA seasons.

The 19-year-old Lithuanian began his professional career with Perlas Vilnius in 2020/21 before playing for FC Barcelona in the EuroLeague and Spanish ACB league from 2022-2024. During his single collegiate season at Illinois, he earned All-Big Ten Third Team honors.

In 33 games for Illinois during the 2024/25 season, the 6'6" wing averaged 15.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, with shooting percentages of 44.0% from the field, 31.8% from three-point range, and 84.5% from the free-throw line.

Jakucionis was Miami's sole selection in last week's draft. The Heat finished the previous regular season with a 37-45 record, earning the Eastern Conference's 10th seed. They secured the conference's final playoff spot by winning both play-in tournament games before being swept by Cleveland in the first round.