Jonas Valanciunas Clears The Air About Nuggets Contract

[Denver Nuggets]

Jonas Valanciunas Clears The Air About Nuggets Contract

(Photo by Kavin Mistry/Getty Images)



Jonas Valanciunas toyed with the idea of leaving the NBA, but he is firmly committed to playing for the Denver Nuggets – at least for now.

According to Donatas Urbaonas, Valanciunas recently made his intentions for 2025-26 very obvious.

“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,” Valanciunas said.

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

When Valanciunas’s move to the Nuggets was announced a few weeks ago, Denver fans were elated.

They believed they were getting a backup big man who could take some of the pressure off of Nikola Jokic’s shoulders and give the team more spacing and direction.

Denver’s second unit has been the subject of ridicule, but Valanciunas could help improve it.

Then, a wrinkle: reports emerged about Valanciunas possibly moving overseas to play for a Greek basketball league.

He was apparently very excited by the idea and was seriously contemplating leaving the NBA for good so he could play closer to his home country of Lithuania.

In the end, his move to the Nuggets went through, and he is going to play his heart out.

But his statement isn’t a firm commitment to always being in the NBA, and there is a good chance he packs his bags and heads overseas the next chance he gets.

Therefore, the Nuggets need to make the most of their time with Valanciunas, because he clearly is still very intrigued by the idea of returning overseas.



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Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/jonas-valanciunas-clears-the-air-about-nuggets-contract/