#Knicks pick Rokas Jokubaitis could join NBA sooner than expected

Maybe Lithuanian combo guard Rokas Jokubaitis won’t turn into a European “stash” pick after all.

After the Knicks’ second Las Vegas summer-league practice, Jokubaitis, selected 34^th in last Thursday’s NBA draft, said it’s still an “option” to come this season, though he’d have to be bought out from his Spanish League team.

That club, Barcelona, is allowing the lefty Lithuanian to play three summer-league games for the Knicks.

“Yeah, there is an option,” Jokubaitis said on a Zoom call Friday. “But it will be very, very intriguing thing. I’m into Europe. But if something will go very well plans could be changed, would change. I don’t know what to expect, but I’m looking forward to summer league and we’ll see how it will go. Right now the plan is to go to Europe, but you never know in basketball, because basketball is a sport where anything can happen.”

It’s been previously reported Jokubaitis is a sure thing to play in Barcelona. The Knicks added to their point-guard corps in signing Kemba Walker, but his knee is always a concern. Luca Vildoza, signed by the Knicks last May from the Spanish League, is also a combo guard and will arrive in Las Vegas in a few days from the Olympics, where he didn’t excel. Vildoza has a non-guaranteed four-year deal.

“(Barcelona) said I can play three games but we’ll see how it will go,” Jokubaitis said. “It depends upon my performance, first of all. And I cannot tell you how it will be but I’m looking forward to playing as good as I can and after this whole summer league we’ll see how it will happen.”

After two summer-league practices, Jokubaitis already sees the adjustment from Europe. He played in Lithuania the last two seasons and is set to join the tougher Spanish League for the first time.

“The biggest adjustment will be the aggressiveness, the contact level, like the speed of basketball is higher than Europe,’’ Jokubaitis said. “In this few practices, I saw that where I can be better because the tempo, I’m not used to that. Playing in this system, I’ll need some time. I think I’d improve and will improve. We’ll see in summer league what I need more to be in the top league in the world. I’m not used to that speed and aggressiveness.”