Rokas Jokubaitis has been part of the EuroLeague rumor mill during this summer. The Lithuanian international is still under contract under 2025 playing for FC Barcelona and there is no final decision on his future as he revealed recently.
Jokubaitis is playing in the Summer League with New York Knicks during this time of the year and hopes that he will get the chance to bring his talents to the NBA at some point. The point guard saw his role getting kind of reduced in the offensive end last season under Roger Grimau, but new FC Barcelona head coach Joan Penarroya has not made a decision on his future yet.
He also confirmed Zalgiris Kaunas interest and the two sides are not near to an agreement at this point of the offseason.
“I still have a contract with Barcelona. It’s more of like we’re in talks with Zalgiris but not very near to signing. Still, I have a contract with Barca, and in a few weeks, we will see where I will go. But now I have a few games in Summer League, and we’ll see,” Jokubaitis told Toni Canyameras of Mundo Deportivo.
Jokubaitis still averaged 17.6 minutes per game in the EuroLeague in the Spanish league and played 15.5 minutes per contest in the EuroLeague. He posted a respectable statline of 5.3 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists through 36 EuroLeague games.
Jokubaitis prioritize NBA dream this summer
Rokas Jokubaitis has impressed NBA peers as he has already three seasons in the top-tier competition under his name. That said, he hopes that he can realize his NBA dream and get a contract in the big league.
The Knicks picked him three years ago at No.34 of the 2020 NBA Draft, but their plans remain a mystery for the Lithuanian international, who played for his national team in the recent OQT in Puerto Rico.
“I have had a lot of attention from the NBA for many years. I was drafted three years ago and I always felt like I was a European basketball player. But now, with years of maturity and the experience I have in Europe, I think I am ready. I would like to come here.”
Having played three games, the Lithuanian international still has two more games left in the Summer League, one of them against the Pistons on Friday.
