Report: Valančiūnas could join Žalgiris after 14 NBA seasons
Lithuanian center Jonas Valančiūnas, with one year left on his NBA contract, might leave the league to join Kaunas Žalgiris, according to media reports.
/nginx/o/2025/08/27/17106413t1h9a76.png)
According to media reports, 34-year-old Lithuanian center Jonas Valančiūnas, who has spent 14 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), could be heading to Europe next season. He has one year remaining on his current contract, worth $10 million, but is speculated to join Kaunas Žalgiris.
Valančiūnas made his NBA debut in 2012, after playing in the Vilnius Rytas system and its first team. He was drafted fifth overall in 2011 by the Toronto Raptors. Throughout his NBA career, he also played for the Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings, and Denver Nuggets.
In the past season, Valančiūnas played 65 games, averaging 13 minutes on the court, scoring 8.7 points, and grabbing 5.1 rebounds. Over the last two seasons, he has primarily come off the bench. While no official agreement has been reached, rumors about a potential move to Žalgiris have sparked significant interest in the Lithuanian basketball community.
