Jonas Valanciunas is again the place his skilled profession started, and his arrival has dramatically raised expectations surrounding Zalgiris Kaunas forward of the brand new EuroLeague season.
After spending 14 years within the NBA, the Lithuanian middle selected to return residence on a two-year contract.
His signing, mixed with the arrivals of Carsen Edwards and Sterling Brown, has given Zalgiris a roster able to setting its sights significantly larger than in earlier campaigns.
Valanciunas seems able to embrace these expectations.
Throughout an look on the Lithuanian present Stonkus Tiesiogiai, he and host Mantas Stonkus got here up with a memorable strategy to rejoice a possible championship: each promised to shave their heads and beards if Zalgiris wins the EuroLeague.
The veteran huge man arrives in Kaunas after ending his NBA journey with the Denver Nuggets, the place he served as Nikola Jokic’s backup.
Through the 2025-26 common season, he produced 8.7 factors, 5.1 rebounds and 1.2 assists per sport whereas changing 58.2% of his field-goal makes an attempt.
His transfer additionally closes an in depth NBA chapter that included 1,002 regular-season appearances and stops with six totally different franchises.
Valanciunas leaves the league with profession averages of 12.8 factors and 9.0 rebounds per sport.
