Jonas Valančiūnas Bio
Jonas Valančiūnas is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Standing 6 feet 11 inches tall and playing the center position, he has built a reputation as a physical interior presence with strong rebounding instincts. Selected by the Toronto Raptors with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, he has spent more than a decade competing at the top levels of European and North American basketball while representing Lithuania in international competition.
Across his career, Valančiūnas has suited up for the Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Washington Wizards, and Sacramento Kings before joining the Denver Nuggets in 2025. He is a seven-time Lithuanian Basketball Player of the Year and a two-time FIBA Young Player of the Year. He is married to Eglė Ačaitė, and the couple has two sons.
Early Life and Background
Jonas Valančiūnas was born on 6 May 1992 in Utena, Lithuania. He grew up in a country with a deep basketball tradition, where the sport is followed at every level of community life. From an early age, he showed the size and skill set that would later define his professional career, drawing attention from local clubs as a teenager.
He joined the youth system of Perlas Vilnius, a development club based in the Lithuanian capital region, and quickly rose through the junior ranks. His performances for Lithuanian age-group national teams highlighted him as one of the most promising big men in Europe, and he was soon playing against older competition as a teenager.
Path to Basketball
Valančiūnas began his senior professional career with Perlas Vilnius in 2008, where he played during a stretch that saw the club compete in both the second-tier NKL and the top-flight Lithuanian Basketball League. In January 2009, he signed a long-term contract with Lithuanian powerhouse Lietuvos Rytas, and after helping Perlas through the first half of the 2009–10 season, he made the permanent move to Lietuvos Rytas in January 2010.
At Lietuvos Rytas, he became a central figure in the Lietuvos Rytas frontcourt, helping the club reach three consecutive LKL Finals and capture the 2010 LKL championship and the 2010 LKF Cup. He also competed in the VTB United League and EuroCup, where his averages of roughly 10.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game on 63.4 percent shooting earned him the 2012 EuroCup Rising Star award and a place on the All-EuroCup First Team.
Jonas Valančiūnas Career
Early Career (2008–2012)
During his time with Perlas Vilnius and Lietuvos Rytas, Valančiūnas piled up individual accolades that pointed to his NBA future. He was a three-time LKL All-Star, a two-time LKL All-Star Game MVP, and the 2012 LKL MVP, while also being named the LKL Most Improved Player in 2011 and 2012 and the LKL Domestic Player of the Year in 2012. He led the LKL in blocks in both 2011 and 2012 and earned All-VTB United League First Team honors in 2012.
On the international junior stage, he was a two-time FIBA European Young Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012, and he led Lithuania to the 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Cup title in Latvia, taking tournament MVP honors after scoring 36 points in the gold medal game against Serbia. That summer, he also debuted for the senior Lithuanian national team on 6 August 2011, scoring 26 points and grabbing 11 rebounds against the Czech Republic.
Toronto Raptors Breakthrough (2012–2019)
Valančiūnas made his NBA debut on 31 October 2012 against the Indiana Pacers, recording 12 points and 10 rebounds in 23 minutes to become the first Raptors rookie since Damon Stoudamire in 1995 to post a double-double in his first game. He went on to earn NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2013 and was named the 2013 Las Vegas Summer League MVP, the first non-American to win the award.
He developed into one of the league’s most reliable interior rebounders, posting career highs of 32 points and 23 rebounds during his time in Toronto. He set Raptors franchise playoff records for rebounds in a single game and double-doubles in the postseason, and he helped the team reach the 2016 Eastern Conference Finals. On 20 August 2015, he signed a four-year, $64 million contract extension with the Raptors, cementing his role as a long-term building block for the franchise.
Memphis Grizzlies Era (2019–2021)
On 7 February 2019, Valančiūnas was traded, along with C. J. Miles, Delon Wright, and a 2024 second-round draft pick, to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Marc Gasol. He made an immediate impact, opening with a 23-point, 10-rebound debut against the San Antonio Spurs, and he later set a franchise record with 23 defensive rebounds in a single game against the Orlando Magic.
On 13 August 2020, he recorded his first career triple-double with 26 points, 19 rebounds, and 12 assists against the Los Angeles Lakers, helping the Grizzlies clinch a spot in the 2020 NBA playoffs. In April 2021, he set a franchise record with 15 consecutive double-doubles, surpassing a mark previously held by Zach Randolph.
New Orleans Pelicans Era (2021–2024)
Valančiūnas was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans on 7 August 2021 and signed a reported two-year, $30 million contract extension weeks later. He quickly became a focal point of the Pelicans’ frontcourt, posting a career-high 39 points with seven made three-pointers against the Los Angeles Clippers on 29 November 2021. He continued to earn Lithuanian Basketball Player of the Year honors in 2022 and 2024 during his time in New Orleans.
Washington Wizards and Sacramento Kings Era (2024–2025)
On 6 July 2024, Valančiūnas signed a three-year, $30 million contract as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Washington Wizards. He was later dealt to the Sacramento Kings on 5 February 2025 in exchange for two second-round draft picks and forward Sidy Cissoko, setting the stage for his next chapter.
Denver Nuggets Era (2025–Present)
On 13 July 2025, Valančiūnas was traded to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Dario Šarić. Reports indicated that Panathinaikos had offered him a three-year deal worth approximately €12 million net, and he traveled to Athens for medical evaluations before ultimately choosing to honor his existing NBA contract with the Nuggets. On 8 April 2026, he became the first Lithuanian to play 1,000 NBA regular season games, underscoring his remarkable durability.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the most memorable moments of his career, Valančiūnas scored 36 points in the 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Cup gold medal game, set Raptors franchise playoff records for rebounds, and recorded a 2012 LKL MVP season with Lietuvos Rytas. He also won silver medals at EuroBasket 2013 and EuroBasket 2015, where he was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Jonas Valančiūnas Career Wins
Valančiūnas has accumulated individual awards and team trophies across the Lithuanian Basketball League, the VTB United League, the EuroCup, the NBA, and the FIBA international stage. His trophy case includes the 2010 LKL championship, the 2010 LKF Cup, seven Lithuanian Basketball Player of the Year awards, and two FIBA Young Player of the Year honors in 2011 and 2012.
Lithuanian League Highlights
During his time with Lietuvos Rytas, Valančiūnas helped the club win the 2010 LKL championship and the 2010 LKF Cup, while reaching the LKL Finals in 2010, 2011, and 2012. He was the 2012 LKL MVP, a two-time LKL Most Improved Player, a three-time LKL All-Star, and a two-time LKL All-Star Game MVP.
International Highlights
Valančiūnas won gold medals at the 2008 FIBA Europe Under-16 Championship, the 2010 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship, and the 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Cup, where he was named tournament MVP. At the senior level, he helped Lithuania capture silver medals at EuroBasket 2013 and EuroBasket 2015, earning All-Tournament Team honors at EuroBasket 2015.
Jonas Valančiūnas Family
Personal Life
Jonas Valančiūnas is married to Eglė Ačaitė, and the couple has two sons. Off the court, he is the face of the Itty Bitty Ballers campaign, marketing miniature basketball-themed figurines with proceeds going to the MLSE Foundation. He also runs the Jonas Valančiūnas Foundation, established in May 2017, which supports adolescents with behavioral challenges and opened a day home called Išvien in August 2018.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season saw Valančiūnas traded twice, first to the Sacramento Kings in February 2025 and then to the Denver Nuggets in July 2025. He weighed a significant offer from Panathinaikos of approximately €12 million net before opting to remain in the NBA, honoring a contract that included $10.4 million guaranteed for 2025–26 and a non-guaranteed $10 million for 2026–27. His veteran presence gave the Nuggets additional depth in the frontcourt.
On 4 February 2026, he was selected as the Lithuanian Basketball Player of the Year for a seventh time, and on 8 April 2026, he became the first Lithuanian to appear in 1,000 NBA regular season games. The Nuggets finished third in the Western Conference in the 2025–26 season and faced the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs, falling 4–2 in the series as Valančiūnas played a limited role of about 6.3 minutes per game.