Jonas Valanciunas shared his thoughts on the physical demands of the NBA and the modern approach to injuries. After nearly 900 games over 13 seasons, he feels the wear but believes players should push through pain and only sit out when absolutely necessary.
Sacramento Kings center Jonas Valanciunas opened up about the physical toll of his long NBA career and the different mindset players have today when it comes to injuries and resting during the season.
2-pointers this season
Sacramento Kings
NBA
With over 13 seasons and about 900 games played, the veteran center said his body definitely feels the wear and tear.
“The pace of the game is faster, players are more athletic,” JV revealed to Basketnews. “I don’t know if they’re stronger, though — back in the day, there were more big-bodied guys banging in the paint, not as many stretch fives shooting threes and driving from the perimeter.”
He also pointed out that injuries have become a major factor in today’s league, partly due to the style of play and how players manage their bodies.
“How you take care of your body — what you put in it, how you recover off the court — all of that matters. And sometimes, you just need to have some balls. You’ve gotta play through pain,” the big man said.
On the topic of sitting out regular season games to rest or manage injuries, JV was clear about his approach.
“That’s not how I was raised. Sure, some guys think differently, and that’s fine. But I see it this way: your job is to play games. That’s what you get paid for. You should only sit when you really can’t play.”
“If I feel off today — maybe my knee or ankle hurts — I still go. Honestly, I can’t even remember the last time I felt 100%. Maybe you feel truly great for like 20 out of 82 games in a season. The rest, you grind through,” the 33-year-old added.
During this NBA regular season, the veteran center averaged 10.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2 assists per game while shooting 55% from the field.
Thank you for being with us! Subscribe to BN+ and browse ad-free.