The influx of foreign talent into the NBA has been a process that’s exploded in recent years. As an example, the past seven NBA MVPs have come from outside the United States after Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won it for this past season. That influx is showing no signs of slowing down, with Lithuanian player Kasparas Jakučionis a potential top-10 pick in the making.
The latest mock draft from PFSN is extremely high on the Illinois product, seeing him as the second player taken off the board, to the San Antonio Spurs. Let’s take a deep dive into his upbringing and the people who raised him.
Meet Kasparas Jakučionis’ Parents, Tomas and Audrone
Jakučionis was born in Vilnius, Lithuania, on May 29, 2006, to Tomas and Audrone Jakučioniene. He also has an elder sister, Komelija. Still under 20, Kasparas has shown his ability to stand out on the basketball court.
Representing Lithuania in the FIBA U-16 European Championship, he led the team to victory before coming overseas. In his lone season with the Fighting Illini, he averaged 15.5 points and nearly five assists despite a forearm injury.
Seen as a gifted playmaker with the ability to control an entire offense with ease, Kasparas has drawn comparisons to Tyrese Haliburton, who is fresh off leading the Indiana Pacers to arguably the most successful season in franchise history.
He’s also made it clear that he’s extremely proud of his European heritage, signaling himself as a torch-bearer for change at Illinois. In an interview at the NBA Draft Combine with Isaac Trotter of 247 Sports, Kasparas talked about the responsibility he carries on his shoulders.
Illinois projected lottery pick Kasparas Jakučionis on Brad Underwood’s band of Balkan Brothers.
“They trusted me. I trusted them. Now, you can see their trust in European players.” pic.twitter.com/R1HPwDwIku
— Isaac Trotter (@Isaac__Trotter) May 14, 2025
“Illinois started recruiting more and more Europeans,” Kasparas said. “Before me, before Tomislav [Ivisic], it wasn’t a lot of European guys coming to Illinois.” But the success this duo brought Illinois forced their hand as they landed Zvonimir Ivisic (Tomislav’s twin brother), Mihailo Petrovic (Serbia), and David Mirkovic (Montenegro) for the 2025-26 season.
“I think they trusted me, I trusted them,” Kasparas said. “Now you can see their trust in European players.”
Who Is Kasparas Jakučionis’ Father?
There isn’t a lot available publicly about Kasparas’ father, Tomas Jakučionis. However, the official website of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project lists him as an intelligence officer with prior experience with the State Security Department.
Who Is Kasparas Jakučionis’ Mother?
Similar to her husband, Audrone Jakučioniene doesn’t have a lot of information about herself available publicly. But she, too, is listed as working for the OCCRP as an intelligence officer as it pertains to the military.
