Jonas Valančiūnas Returns to Europe, Signs Two-Year Deal with Žalgiris Kaunas

Jonas Valančiūnas, the Lithuanian center, has completed a significant move by signing a two-year contract with Žalgiris Kaunas, marking his return to European basketball after 14 years in the NBA. The 34-year-old was recently released by the Denver Nuggets and attracted interest from other NBA teams before deciding to strengthen Žalgiris in the EuroLeague.

Valančiūnas averaged 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in just under 13 and a half minutes per game during the last NBA season. According to European reports, his contract with Žalgiris is worth $5.5 million over two years. This is a decrease from his previous NBA salary, where he earned over $10 million in the last season of a $30.2 million contract signed in 2024.

Valančiūnas began his professional career in Vilnius, playing his rookie season in 2008-09 with the Rytas Vilnius junior team before moving up to the senior squad. He was selected fifth overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, which launched his lengthy NBA career. His return to Lithuania and the EuroLeague is seen as one of the most notable summer moves in European basketball.