NBA
JV
#17

Jonas Valančiūnas

Center · Denver Nuggets · 6'11", 265 lb · Born May 6, 1992 · Utena, Lithuania · Drafted 5th overall, 2011
Denver NuggetsReserve
NBADenver NuggetsCenters
Compare:vs Gordonvs Brownvs Johnsonvs Braunvs IIvs Pickett
In short

Jonas Valančiūnas is a bruising veteran center for the Denver Nuggets and one of the most accomplished Lithuanian players ever. Drafted 5th overall by Toronto in 2011, he's a relentless rebounder and interior scorer across stops in Toronto, Memphis, New Orleans, Washington, and Sacramento before joining Denver in 2025. A seven-time Lithuanian Player of the Year and two-time EuroBasket silver medalist, he gives Denver rugged minutes behind Jokić.

Matchup model · next gameMedium confidenceTue, Nov 10
vsOklahoma City ThunderSwitch-heavy
Out for Oklahoma City Thunder: Chet Holmgren — coverage adjusts below.
Proj. points
8.7
range 6–11.4
Line 8.5
53%
to go over
Team win
63%
116–113
Poi 8.7 Lean overReb 5.2 Lean overAss 1.2 Lean overPRA 15.1 Lean over
Likely on himIsaiah Hartenstein· 78 Rim protectionStrong defender
5+ pts89%10+ pts33%

Injury swing: Chet Holmgren would normally take it; instead it falls to Isaiah Hartenstein (+0.1 pts). Model lines Valančiūnas at 8.7 pts (range 6–11.4) vs a 8.5 line — a lean to clear it (53%).

Biggest edge: venue — home floor — small boost.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
✦ Ask anything about Valančiūnas
Latest news
transactionJul 10, 2025
Nuggets add veterans Tim Hardaway Jr., Jonas Valančiūnas, and Tyus Jones
Hoops Rumors ↗
The Valančiūnas Story — narrated
Tap play to hear his story, told as a 90-second short.
🔊 Prototype uses your browser's built-in voice. Production would use a studio-grade AI narrator.

A throwback bruiser from a basketball-mad nation — the rugged interior muscle behind the game's best center.

Born in Utena, Lithuania, Valančiūnas went fifth overall to Toronto in 2011 and became one of the league's most reliable physical centers — rebounding and scoring in the paint.

🇱🇹 Utena, LithuaniaDrafted 5th, 2011

Across Toronto, Memphis, New Orleans, Washington, and Sacramento he set franchise rebounding marks and, for Lithuania, won two EuroBasket silvers and seven national Player of the Year awards.

TOR·MEM·NOP·WAS·SAC🥈🥈 EuroBasket silver

Denver added him in 2025 for veteran interior insurance behind Jokić, and in April 2026 he became the first Lithuanian to play 1,000 NBA games.

1,000 NBA gamesBackup to Jokić
— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
PPG
8.7
2025-26
RPG
5.1
per game
APG
1.2
per game
FG%
.582
.308 from three
LIFE

Roots & the rise

A bruising Lithuanian veteran and elite rebounder — the rugged interior insurance behind Nikola Jokić.

Born in Utena, Lithuania, Valančiūnas was the 5th overall pick by Toronto in 2011 and became a durable, physical center — a strong rebounder and efficient interior scorer — across Toronto, Memphis, New Orleans, Washington, and Sacramento before Denver acquired him in 2025.

Internationally he's a Lithuanian institution: a seven-time national Player of the Year and two-time EuroBasket silver medalist (2013, 2015). In April 2026 he became the first Lithuanian to play 1,000 NBA regular-season games.

Sources: Wikipedia.

BEYOND THE GAME

Beyond the game

Valančiūnas carries the pride of Lithuanian basketball, a nation where the sport is close to a religion. A national-team fixture since age 19 and a seven-time domestic Player of the Year, he's spent his career as a throwback: a big, physical, low-post center in a league that drifted toward speed and spacing. In Denver he settled into a fittingly veteran role — rugged backup minutes and rebounding — after a brief, well-documented flirtation with finishing his career overseas.

PERSONALITY

The person

A physical, old-school interior big and proud Lithuanian veteran — rebounding and toughness on demand.

Bruising rebounderCareer 9.0 boards a game and franchise rebounding records across teams.
Lithuanian great7× national Player of the Year; 2× EuroBasket silver.
Durable veteranFirst Lithuanian to reach 1,000 NBA games (2026).
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Backup Big · Interior Vet
Temperament
Steady Vet
Leadership
70/100
Scoring66
Playmaking40
Rebounding82
Perimeter D45
Rim protection74
Spacing40
Athleticism45
Clutch55
Bruising rebounderVeteran anchor
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

Rugged insurance behind a unicorn

Denver's long-standing question is who anchors the paint when Jokić rests. Valančiūnas is a clean answer: a physical, high-percentage interior scorer (58% in 2025-26) and strong rebounder who lets the Nuggets stay big without a drop-off in toughness. He doesn't stretch the floor, but for spot minutes he provides exactly the rebounding and rim presence the roster otherwise lacks.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-266513.48.75.11.2.582.308

Source: Basketball-Reference.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Where he sits in history

MilestoneFirst Lithuanian to play 1,000 NBA games (April 2026)
International2× EuroBasket silver (2013, 2015); 7× Lithuanian Player of the Year
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated July 12, 2026

Jonas Valančiūnas's 2025-26 value came from rebounding and interior work alongside Nikola Jokić.

2025-26 roleReserve
3-point shooting.308
Bottom line

A reserve on a 54-28 Nuggets team built around Nikola Jokić, with value rooted in rebounding and interior work.

FAQ

Quick answers

Where is Jonas Valančiūnas from?

Utena, Lithuania. He was the 5th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by Toronto.

What is Valančiūnas's role in Denver?

A rugged veteran backup center — rebounding and interior scoring behind Nikola Jokić.