Davion Mitchell vs Kasparas Jakucionis: A Healthy Training Camp Battle

When it comes to Miami Heat players trying to make a good impression on the Heat staff and organization, there's one simple way to do it during training camp: going at it 110% every time you step out on the floor.

Erik Spoelstra is known to push players to go even harder out there, such as he did on Wednesday with Kel'el Ware once again: “I see flashes of it. I see flashes where he needs to be a whole lot better," Spoelstra said after noting it's still super early in camp.

Erik Spoelstra says “it’s early” when talking about Ware so far in camp:

“I see flashes of it. I see flashes where he needs to be a whole lot better.”

References he’s learning how to impact a win aside from the flashes
— Brady Hawk (@BradyHawk305) October 1, 2025

He may push some to raise the level of competition, but one thing he won't ever do is try and tone it down. That was the case for Heat rookie Kasparas Jakucionis and last year's trade deadline acquisition Davion Mitchell to start the morning off on Wednesday.

"All of us really loved it, even the guys mentioned it after the practice," Spoelsaid mentioned regarding the Mitchell-Jakucionis battle today. "They’re both pit bulls. Davion’s a more veteran seasoned NBA pit bull, but Kas has those kind of qualities in him.”

“They were going at it, after each other, all in a good way," Spoelstra continued. "Scrappiness, if you didn't know them you would think that it was something else. But it was all respect."

Spo said the talk of the day today was the battle between Davion and Kas:

“They’re both pit bulls. Davion’s a more veteran seasoned NBA pit bulls, and Kas has those kind of qualities in him.”

“They were going at it, after each other, all in a good way. It was all respect.”
— Brady Hawk (@BradyHawk305) October 1, 2025

As Jakucionis said yesterday in a sit-down, he's using this time to try and grasp any piece of advice and tidbits from the vets on this roster, which included learning defensive tendencies from Mitchell. But one of the best ways to learn from a guy as a rookie is to first earn the respect of that guy by going toe to toe with him inbetween those four lines.

"He lost a couple of the battles, but he's putting his nose in there," Spoelstra said regarding the outcome of that battle. Mitchell is no doubt a tough player to overcome when it comes to a one-on-one game on an island. Elite perimeter defense that makes it hard to breathe as a ball-handler, while also dealing with the bully ball offensive style against a rookie who maybe hasn't fully developed into his NBA body yet.

Erik Spoelstra lives for this stuff in camp. When you hear the phrase "that's a Miami Heat guy," these are the type of storylines it's referring to. And for Jakucionis to pick up on that this soon, possibly with the advice from Goran Dragic who has been working with him, it's a great sign.