Jonas Valanciunas Commits to Zalgiris, Awaiting NBA Exit Resolution

Jonas Valanciunas is getting closer to returning to European basketball. According to BasketNews, the Lithuanian center has committed to Zalgiris Kaunas for the next two seasons, though the deal is conditional on him resolving his current contract with the Denver Nuggets.

After 14 seasons in the NBA, Valanciunas appears ready to end his long stint in the United States and return to his home country to join Zalgiris, which would represent one of the most significant signings in recent years for the Lithuanian club.

The agreement between both parties is on track, but the crucial step remains: his contractual exit from Denver. The center still has one more year remaining on his Nuggets contract, valued at $10 million, for the 2026-27 season. The Colorado franchise maintains room to maneuver regarding his situation, after his salary guarantee date was modified and moved from June 29 to July 8, aimed at gaining flexibility in the market.

Despite this, both the player's camp and Zalgiris are confident the process can be resolved soon. If finalized, Valanciunas would sign a two-year deal and the Kaunas squad would essentially complete its roster, with no further signings planned.

Zalgiris set Monday, June 22 as the deadline to receive a response from the player, and it has been positive. This positions the Lithuanian club as the only possible destination for Valanciunas should he definitively leave the NBA.

The 34-year-old center had already considered a return to Europe last summer and came close to signing with Panathinaikos, even traveling to Greece for a medical examination. However, the deal fell through after Denver retained his rights and decided to keep him on the roster for the 2025-26 season.

During the last season, Valanciunas appeared in 65 games with the Nuggets, averaging 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists, while shooting 58.2% from the field. Over his NBA career, he has surpassed 1,000 games played, with career averages of 12.8 points and 9.0 rebounds.

Now, after more than a decade competing at the highest level in the United States, Jonas Valanciunas is on the verge of orchestrating a historic return to European basketball and becoming the marquee big man for Zalgiris Kaunas.