FIBA World Cup: Knicks Prospect Rokas Jokubaitis Ready For Brunson, Hart

Rokas Jokubaitis will finally get to share the hardwood with members of the New York Knicks, namely Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Summer dreams are about to come true for a fringe contingent of New York Knicks fans.

Those who keep an eye on the deepest depths of the Knicks' talent pool have likely waited for the day Rokas Jokubaitis takes the floor with Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. That wish will be granted on Sunday, but probably not in the way those fans saw coming ... or preferred. 

The active metropolitan duo, repping the United States, will do battle with Jokubaitis and Lithuania when the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup tips off later this week. Jokubaitis' draft rights belong to the Knicks through a draft day trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who chose him with the 34th overall pick of the 2021 NBA Draft (the deal also brought Miles McBride to New York).

Terrific all-around game for Rokas Jokubaitis in Lithuania’s victory over Montenegro today.

Rokas finished with:
19pts (on 9-for-12 shooting)
6 assists
5 rebounds

pic.twitter.com/dPD9A6DcED

— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) August 29, 2023

Both Lithuania and the United States have already clinched victory at the top of their preliminary play groups and each has been placed in Group J for the latter stanza that will determine the eight-team championship bracket. The two sides are set to close Group J play on Sunday in Manila. 

In the meantime, the Americans close out their first-round slate in a mostly meaningless tilt with winless Jordan on Monday morning (4:40 a.m. ET, ESPN2). Jokubaitis and the Lithuanians have already completed their preliminary trio, clinching Group D with a 91-71 win over Montenegro (who will join Lithuania and the United States in Group J by nature of a runner-up finish behind the former). It gives Jokubaitis a little extra time to ponder the coming showdown against his potential future teammates. 

"We all know the situation," Jokubaitis said in an interview with Aris Barkas of EuroHoops. "They have two Knicks players, Hart and Brunson. It will be a fun matchup, I think, to play against the United States. It's a great challenge and I'm waiting and looking forward to it and we'll see what we can do against them."

Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Save for a three-game cameo during the 2021 Summer League activities in Las Vegas, Jokubaitis has yet to don a Knicks jersey. He currently reps the famed FC Barcelona program and has established himself as a deep-shooting point guard, notably sinking 56.8 percent of his attempts beyond the arc for Barca during the 2021-22 season. Those efforts were part of a Spanish Cup-winning showing and drew the attention of EuroLeague voters, who named Jokubaitis the recipient of the Rising Star Award. Previous winners include Danilo Gallinari, Ricky Rubio, and Luka Doncic. 

It was announced earlier this summer that Jokubaitis will return for another season with Barca, rendering the World Cup one of the rare times Knicks fans can see him play without international cable hook-upIf the Lithuanians are going to pull off an upset against the Americans, Jokubaitis will likely have to play a big role: the 22-year-old scored 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting in the final win over Montenegro, pairing it with six assists and five rebounds en route to perfection. 

"It's crazy to think about it right now, but this is reality," Jokubaitis said of the unexpected leadership role he's taken at age 22. "I'm happy that I have teammates like this, that are making me a better player. I feel great right now, tired, but great. (It's) a good feeling right now to play in a World Cup for Lithuania and be the main point guard. There is a responsibility but I'm enjoying playing basketball."

The final spot in Group J will be taken by either Greece or New Zealand in their battle for Group C's runner-up behind the Americans.