Sacramento Kings center Jonas Valanciunas reflected on his experience at the EuroLeague Final Four in Abu Dhabi and voiced his belief that the league should revisit its All-EuroLeague Team selection criteria.
Sacramento Kings center Jonas Valanciunas had the opportunity to witness history up close as the EuroLeague Final Four was held outside of Europe for the first time, taking place in Abu Dhabi. The Lithuanian big man was in attendance to watch the top four teams in the competition battle for the coveted title.
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Following the final, which saw Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul claim the club's second EuroLeague championship, Valanciunas shared his impressions of the event and the atmosphere.
"Overall, it was great," Valanciunas told BasketNews. "Every EuroLeague Final Four is special — the fans, the atmosphere... It's a celebration of basketball, something you can’t replace. I’m always glad to be here."
He emphasized that no matter the location, each Final Four carries the same passion and energy.
"Honestly, every Final Four is special," Valanciunas said. "They’re all kind of similar — fans from all over the world come to support their teams."
"They don’t just sit in their seats — they stand, they cheer. That’s all you can ask for as a basketball player. Even just watching from the stands, you feel it."
Asked whether he would consider returning to Europe later in his career, Valanciunas didn’t rule it out.
"We’ll see. I always want to enjoy basketball. If the time comes and it makes sense, of course," he said. "Maybe there’s some unfinished business here."
When it comes to choosing a team, his priorities are clear.
"I want to win — that’s what matters," he stated. "Whether it’s in the NBA or Europe, I want to win. Winning is the only preference. A win is a win."
Asked specifically about the possibility of joining Zalgiris Kaunas in the future, the Lithuanian smiled and responded:
"Sure — they can win too," he said.
This year’s All-EuroLeague First Team included no traditional big men, a fact that didn’t go unnoticed by Valanciunas.
"It’s time for a change. Bring the bigs back," Lithuanian big man stated.
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