Jonas Valanciunas has officially closed the door on his 14-year American basketball career, agreeing to a two-year contract with Zalgiris Kaunas that will keep him in the EuroLeague through the 2027–28 season. The 34-year-old Lithuanian center, widely recognized as the all-time NBA top scorer for his nation, made the decision to return to his homeland after being waived by the Denver Nuggets just last week, marking a historic homecoming for one of Europe’s most decorated players to the club where his professional journey originally began.
The Final Move Home
The announcement came on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, when Zalgiris Kaunas confirmed the signing through its official social media channels, framing the deal as a monumental addition to their roster for the upcoming EuroLeague and domestic campaigns. While the club and Valanciunas did not publicly disclose the specific financial figures, reputable sources from BasketNews indicate that the Lithuanian star is expected to earn approximately €5 million, or roughly $5.5 million, over the duration of the two-year agreement. This financial package, while lower than what a minimum-salary NBA deal would have offered in pre-tax terms, represents a significant post-tax total that is typical for top-tier European salaries and solidifies his commitment to settling in Kaunas rather than treating the move as a temporary stopover.
Valanciunas’s path to Zalgiris was paved by his recent release from Denver, where he played a backup role behind Nikola Jokic during the 2025–26 season. In his lone year with the Nuggets, the veteran big man appeared in 65 games, averaging 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest, numbers that reflected a reduced offensive role compared to his earlier years as a primary scorer. Rather than pursuing another opportunity in the United States, where he reportedly fielded interest from multiple NBA teams, Valanciunas chose to prioritize a return to the European game he left behind in 2011, signaling a clear intention to provide leadership and scoring depth to a Zalgiris roster that already includes several players with NBA experience such as Carsen Edwards and Nigel Williams-Goss.
A Career Defined by Durability
Leaving the NBA after 14 seasons, Valanciunas departs with a resume that underscores both his longevity and his consistent value as a center across the league. Over the course of 1,002 regular-season games, including 854 starts, he compiled career averages of 12.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, a pace that places him among the most productive and reliable interior players of his generation. His journey took him through six different franchises, beginning with a seven-year stint in Toronto before moves to Memphis, New Orleans, Washington, Sacramento, and finally Denver, a trajectory that saw him contribute in nearly every region of the league while maintaining a reputation as a steady interior presence capable of delivering scoring and rebounding production over the long haul.
The durability required to play more than 1,000 games is a testament to Valanciunas’s physical conditioning and his ability to adapt his style of play as the league evolved around him. Selected as the fifth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors, he earned second-team All-Rookie honors in 2013 and was named the Lithuanian Basketball Player of the Year seven times, accolades that highlight his dominance both internationally and domestically before his NBA arrival. His decision to return to Zalgiris now, after more than a decade in the American league, is viewed by many as a historic moment for Lithuanian basketball, bringing a player of his caliber back to the institution where he first made his name with Perlas Vilnius and Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius before entering the draft.
What Zalgiris Gains
For Zalgiris Kaunas, securing Valanciunas represents a strategic upgrade that combines elite experience with the emotional weight of a homecoming story. The club has officially completed its roster for the 2026–27 season with this signing, eliminating the need for further additions as they prepare to face stiff competition in the EuroLeague. Valanciunas is expected to operate as the primary option at the center spot, leveraging his NBA-honed skill set to dominate in the paint and provide a reliable scoring outlet for his new teammates. His presence will also offer a veteran leadership element that can guide younger players through the pressures of high-stakes European competition, a role that aligns with his history as a steady locker room figure throughout his American tenure.
As the 2026–27 season approaches, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see how Valanciunas’s style translates back to the European game, where the pace and defensive schemes differ from the NBA. The two-year commitment ensures that he will be available through the 2027–28 season, giving Zalgiris a stable foundation at the center position for multiple years. This move not only closes a 14-year chapter in the United States but also opens a new era for Valanciunas on home soil, where he can once again compete for domestic titles and EuroLeague glory while representing the country that has been the backbone of his basketball identity.