Overview
Rubštavičius spent the 2023-24 season with the NZ Breakers of the NBL in Australia, but he started his professional career a few years ago in his native Lithuania. He made his pro debut in the 2018-19 season with Lietkabelis, though he only logged five appearances. He played for Zalgiris Kaunas II during the 2019-20 campaign, averaging 6.7 points and 2.1 rebounds per contest across 36 outings, and then he alternated between BC Zalgiris II and BC Zalgiris between 2020 and 2022. He returned to Lietkabelis for the 2022-23 campaign, averaging 7.0 points and 1.8 rebounds across 29 appearances until deciding to jump to New Zealand. Excluding his years with Zalgiris II, the 2023-24 campaign was a career-best season for Rubštavičius. He averaged 9.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists across 19.9 minutes per game with the Breakers in the NBL. He shot 52.5% from the field and 43.3% from beyond the arc during his lone year with the Breakers.
Analysis
Rubštavičius stands at 6-foot-6, and even though his 196-pound frame is a bit slim, he doesn’t need to be the strongest player out there due to his quickness and the fact he’ll probably spend most of his time on offense as a perimeter threat due to his excellent shooting skills. He has the handles of a guard and the size of a stretch-four, making him very difficult for opposing defenses to slow down. To make things even better for him, he also can knock down shots with ease, either as a catch-and-shoot threat or after making very few dribbles. His shooting ability doesn’t get enough credit, but if he’s shooting over 50% from the field in a fast-tempo game such as the NBL, that should translate very well to the NBA. His off-the-ball movements and playmaking ability suggest he can also operate as a secondary ball-handler at the NBA level. Defensively, Rubštavičius has shown he can defend wings due to his lateral quickness and excellent first step. However, his defensive decision-making is not at an NBA level yet. He needs to improve on his composure defensively as his aggressiveness often makes him read plays the wrong way. But he has the physical traits to hold his own. He just needs to work on the defensive intangibles, something that he’ll eventually learn with more reps at a higher level.
Projection
After being selected in the All-Tournament during the 2022 FIBA U20 European Championship, Rubštavičius decided to move to the NBL as a part of their Next Stars program and thrived, as expected. He’s mature beyond his years due to his accumulated experience, and he figures to be an impact player at the next level once he adjusts to life in the NBA. He figures to be a starting-caliber wing with excellent size and guard-handling skills, making him a nightmarish matchup for opposing defenses. He’s drawn comparisons to Lauri Markkanen.
— Profile by RotoWire