When it was announced that the Denver Nuggets were trading away Dario Saric in return for Jonas Valanciunas, it seemed like a miracle for Nuggets fans. A move that very few thought was possible ended up being the potential answer to the never-ending problem of the non-Nikola Jokic minutes, the handful of minutes in every playoff game that usually determines whether Denver wins or losses.
However, the trade quickly turned to a question after reported circled of whether or not the Lithuanian big man actually wanted to be in Denver with reports that he had been in talks with a contract with Greek basketball franchise Panathinaikos. There were lots of questions from the NBA world, and it seemed like the idea of having a competent center to back up Jokic was fading away.
In good news for Nuggets fans, the talks recently have shifted back towards emphasizing that Valanciunas will be in the Mile High City this year. Team executives said on Friday that they have ‘no concerns’ that he will be in Denver, and Valanciunas himself put all the questions to rest on Monday.
“I want to clear the air about my playing situation next season now that Denver has made their decision to keep me. The idea of playing for Panathinaikos, closer to home, was very exciting to me, but that will have to wait. I am fully committed to honoring my contract with the Nuggets this season and will give it my all to compete for a championship,” he said to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.
Jonas Valanciunas spoke with me to clear the air on the Nuggets and Panathinaikos situation:
“I want to clear the air about my playing situation next season now that Denver has made their decision to keep me. The idea of playing for Panathinaikos, closer to home, was very…
— Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) July 21, 2025
Finally, this saga can be put to rest. The Nuggets have their answer to the bench unit, and he is here to stay — at least for one year. His contract is fully guaranteed for the 2025-26 season, with the final year being a non-guaranteed team option, which creates lots of flexibility depending on how the 33-year-old’s time in Denver goes this year.
Valanciunas played in just 21 games last season for the Kings and the Wizards, but shot 55% from the field and made almost 88% of his free throw attempts. Despite not even playing 20 minutes per game, he averaged 10.4 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. He’s been a solid player throughout his career, and will bring exactly what the Nuggets need to the bench.
