Jonas Valanciunas seems to be all-in for his 14th NBA season.
After initially balking about becoming a member of the Denver Nuggets, the 6-foot-11 Valanciunas mentioned this week that he’ll play for the franchise.
Denver acquired him from the Sacramento Kings earlier this month however the 33-year-old Lithuanian was extra occupied with enjoying abroad for Greek crew Panathinaikos.
“I need to clear the air about my enjoying scenario subsequent season now that Denver has made their resolution to maintain me,” Valanciunas advised BasketNews. “The concept of enjoying for Panathinaikos, nearer to house, was very thrilling to me, however that must wait. I’m totally dedicated to honoring my contract with the Nuggets this season and can give it my all to compete for a championship.”
Valanciunas is getting into the second season of a three-year, $30.3 million deal.
The Nuggets acquired Valanciunas to offer backup help to middle Nikola Jokic, a three-time league MVP. Jokic averaged a career-high 36.7 minutes per sport final season, his eighth straight marketing campaign of averaging greater than half-hour per outing.
Valanciunas has performed as a reserve simply 89 instances in his 937-game profession and 60 of them got here final season when he break up the marketing campaign between the Washington Wizards (49 video games) and Kings (32). He averaged 10.4 factors and seven.7 rebounds whereas averaging a career-low 18.8 minutes.
General, Valanciunas has profession averages of 13.1 factors and 9.3 rebounds whereas enjoying for the Toronto Raptors (2012-19), Memphis Grizzlies (2019-21), New Orleans Pelicans (2021-24), Wizards and Kings. He has a profession field-goal share of 56 %. — Subject Stage Media/Reuters
