Jonas Valanciunas, who jokingly predicted joining the Nuggets last year, has officially become Nikola Jokic's backup in Denver, fulfilling his earlier desire to compete for a title.
Veteran center Jonas Valanciunas has officially joined the Denver Nuggets following a trade from the Sacramento Kings. Interestingly, this move was something he hinted at a year ago.
3-pointers this season
Denver Nuggets
NBA
In the summer of 2024, Valanciunas signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Washington Wizards—a team clearly not in a win-now mode.
But even then, Valanciunas seemed to know his time in Washington might be short-lived. Competing for a title was still on his mind.
So, last offseason, he appeared on a Lithuanian talk show, The Last Supper, hosted by comedian Mantas Katleris.
During the conversation, Valanciunas was asked a hypothetical question: if he could choose any team to compete for a championship as a backup center, who would it be?
His answer: the Denver Nuggets.
"I'd give Jokic a break for about 7 to 12 minutes," he joked. "You do your thing, dude, and I'll just take it easy here. These aren't my best years anymore."
Valanciunas, 33, went on to praise three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, calling him a unique and selfless superstar.
"What Jokic does so well is make everyone around him better," JV said. "He puts everything into places. His basketball IQ is off the charts."
Credit IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect - Scanpix
Even then, Valanciunas' priority was clear.
"I need to win. I want to win. I want to feel that taste of victory," he said on the local show. "I want to join a contender. I'm not some young talent ready to explode in two or three years. Teams know what I bring—stability, reliability. I'm here for a team that wants to win."
While EuroLeague powerhouse Panathinaikos Athens showed serious interest, the Nuggets plan to keep Valanciunas as Nikola Jokic's primary backup.
The Lithuanian big man is under contract for $10.4 million in the 2025–26 season, with a non-guaranteed $10 million for 2026–27.
Nuggets head coach David Adelman has already shared his vision for Valanciunas as a "point center" off the bench—a versatile big who can help initiate offense and boost Denver's half-court flow.
Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.