Former Denver Nuggets Center Breaks Silence After Leaving The NBA
Former Denver Nuggets Center Breaks Silence After Leaving The NBA
KAUNAS, LITHUANIA — After a formidable 14-season run battling in the paint against the world’s most elite athletes, veteran center Jonas Valanciunas has officially closed the book on his NBA career. The former Denver Nuggets big man recently cleared waivers and made the pivotal decision to return to his European roots, signing a lucrative two-year deal with Lithuanian powerhouse Zalgiris Kaunas. Now, safely back on familiar soil, Valanciunas is finally breaking his silence on the motivations behind his monumental career shift and what the future holds for him outside the United States.
The sudden news of Valanciunas departing the NBA sent ripples through the league’s front offices earlier this summer. At 34 years old, the bruising 6-foot-11 center still possessed the formidable physical tools, interior scoring touch, and rebounding prowess that made him a walking double-double threat on any given night. Yet, after spending the 2025-26 season operating predominantly behind three-time MVP Nikola Jokic in Denver, Valanciunas found himself at a professional crossroads. The Nuggets ultimately opted to waive him before his contract fully locked in, a calculated financial maneuver designed to reduce their salary cap obligation from his full $10 million figure down to a mere $2 million partial guarantee.
Despite reportedly drawing significant interest from prominent championship-contending franchises such as the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks—both of whom were aggressively scouring the market for frontcourt depth—Valanciunas chose to walk away from the bright lights of the NBA entirely. Speaking candidly on Zalgiris TV shortly after his signing was made official, the Lithuanian national icon shed light on the emotional and professional factors that drew him back across the Atlantic.
“The process was quite long, and we had many conversations, but Lithuania, Zalgiris, and basketball in Lithuania definitely played a big role,” Valanciunas explained, appearing visibly at peace with his monumental decision. “The fans and what Zalgiris have been building here over the past few years also really impressed me, so I wanted to be part of it.”
For Valanciunas, this homecoming represents a beautiful full-circle moment in a highly decorated career. Long before he declared for the 2011 NBA Draft—where he was selected fifth overall by the Toronto Raptors—he honed his raw skills as a teenager with BC Rytas in his native Lithuania. Over the ensuing decade and a half, he firmly established himself as arguably the most recognizable basketball figure from his country since the legendary Arvydas Sabonis, proudly serving as the immovable bedrock of the Lithuanian national team during countless summer FIBA competitions.
While the undeniable financial allure of remaining in the NBA was certainly present, Valanciunas’s late-career priorities had clearly shifted toward legacy, personal comfort, and the pure joy of the sport. He is expected to earn approximately €5 million (around $5.5 million) over his two-year stint with Zalgiris. While that figure undeniably pales in comparison to the massive contracts being handed out to NBA role players, it represents a top-tier financial commitment within the competitive EuroLeague landscape.
“There is a desire to enjoy basketball, and that is the most important thing,” Valanciunas admitted when reflecting on his departure from American shores. When asked by local media if any of his former Nuggets teammates, including franchise cornerstone Jokic, had reached out to him following the announcement, he remained nonchalant. “Not yet. Everything is still very fresh, so we will see how it goes and how everything comes together. But I spoke with quite a few people about this entire situation.”
The transition back to the European style of play is a challenge that Valanciunas anticipates with both deep respect and unwavering confidence. The EuroLeague is globally renowned for its intense physicality, distinct spacing nuances, and fiercely passionate, drum-beating fanbases—elements that heavily contrast with the modern, highlight-driven, pace-and-space era of today’s NBA.
“It will be different,” he acknowledged with a knowing smile. “I have played European basketball with the national team many times during the summers. Of course, I will have to change a few details and certain aspects that perhaps suit European basketball more than the NBA. But basketball is basketball – you still have to put the ball in the basket. That is what drives me. I have been doing it since childhood, and I cannot imagine myself doing anything else.”
Valanciunas’s departure leaves a highly tangible void in the NBA, particularly for a Denver Nuggets squad that is desperately trying to maximize its current championship window in the stacked Western Conference. To fill the backup center role vacated by the Lithuanian bruiser, the Nuggets quickly pivoted to acquiring former top draft pick Marvin Bagley III on a low-risk, one-year deal. However, seamlessly replacing Valanciunas’s veteran leadership, stabilizing locker room presence, and sheer physical intimidation will be a remarkably steep task for head coach Michael Malone’s staff.
Looking back, Valanciunas’s NBA resume stands as a brilliant testament to durability, professionalism, and the enduring value of traditional center play. Over the course of 14 grueling seasons, he meticulously evolved from a raw, high-energy prospect in Toronto to a vital, foundational piece of the Memphis Grizzlies’ gritty revival. He later served as a crucial stabilizing force for the New Orleans Pelicans before his final, abbreviated stint in the Mile High City. He leaves the NBA with impressive career averages that comfortably place him among the most remarkably consistent and reliable big men of his generation, thriving even as the league’s tactical meta violently shifted away from his traditional, back-to-the-basket style.
Now, as he diligently prepares to don the iconic green and white jersey of Zalgiris Kaunas, Valanciunas remains laser-focused on the immediate, tangible challenges ahead. He harbors no specific vendettas against any EuroLeague opponents and is not chasing individual accolades, opting instead for a highly pragmatic and team-oriented approach to his twilight years on the hardwood.
“I just want to enjoy basketball,” he reiterated, perfectly summarizing the grounded mindset that ultimately pulled him away from the NBA. “I think all the opponents are equally strong and equally beatable. It depends on me: how I prepare, how I put together my plan, and how I get to work. There is definitely a lot of desire, so I think it is going to be a fun season.”
As the NBA relentlessly moves forward into a highly anticipated new season, it does so without one of its most steadfast and universally respected international ambassadors. But for Jonas Valanciunas and the famously passionate fans of Zalgiris Kaunas, a thrilling new chapter is just beginning.
