New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas is about to enter the summer with potential changes. The Lithuanian big man will become an unrestricted free agent after his current two-year, $30 million contract extension, signed in 2021, expires. Rumors swirled last summer that the Pelicans were open to trading his expiring deal to upgrade defensively at the position, but nothing materialized.
BasketNews has already explored how many ex-NBA players compete in the EuroLeague, but now let's shift our focus in the opposite direction. Currently, 38 former EuroLeague players are making their mark in the NBA. Among them, 18 have found a home in Eastern Conference teams, while the Western Conference boasts 20.
Jonas Valanciunas paced Lithuania to their sixth win in seven games in the 2023 World Cup, while racking up another double-double. In the contest against Slovenia, where Lithuania prevailed 100-84, the New Orleans Pelicans big man recorded 24 points and 12 rebounds for a PIR of 29.
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2008-2009: Perlas Vilnius (2nd Lithuanian division) 2009-2010: Perlas Vilnius (Lithuania), joined Rytas Vilnius (Lithuania) in January 2010-2011: Rytas Vilnius (Lithuania) 2011-2012: Rytas Vilnius (Lithuania) 2012-2013: Toronto Raptors (NBA) 2013-2014: Toronto Raptors (NBA) 2014-2015: Toronto Raptors (NBA) 2015-2016: Toronto Raptors (NBA) 2016-2017: Toronto Raptors (NBA) 2017-2018: Toronto Raptors (NBA) 2018-2019: Toronto Raptors (NBA), traded to Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) 2019-2020: Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) 2020-2021: Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) 2021-2022: New Orleans Pelicans (NBA) 2022-2023: New Orleans Pelicans (NBA) 2023-2024: New Orleans Pelicans (NBA)
The NBA regular season has finished, which means it's time to give out awards and pick the strongest in different categories. Augustas Suliauskas from BasketNews decided to make the Top-10 list of the league's best European players judging by advanced stats. Let's go over the methodology used while making the list. Aside from the simplest basketball stats that you see on a regular basis, we ...
Chris Paul scored 19 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter to help the Phoenix Suns deflate a New Orleans comeback attempt and post a 110-99 victory over the visiting Pelicans on Sunday night in the opening game of their Western Conference playoff series. Paul made 12 of 16 field-goal attempts -- including 4 of 6 from 3-point range -- and also contributed 10 assists, seven rebounds and three ...
New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas shared his thoughts on Lithuanian national team head coach Kazys Maksvytis and the plans for the upcoming summer. Talking to Zilvaras Zinkevicius, the representative of TV3 Sport and Go3, Valanciunas confirmed that he will participate in the EuroBasket 2022 if nothing unexpected occurs. "I plan to take part in the EuroBasket. If my health allows, there ...
Although not without recent slumps, the Lithuanian national team is one of the most formidable forces in European basketball. The head coach of the team, Kazys Maksvytis, has a tall task of arranging a team that features important players from both the EuroLeague and the NBA. However, in a recent interview with BasketNews' Karolis Tiskevicius, Maksvytis provided positive news for the fans all ...
The trade deadline and the All-Star break are now over, and we are now cruising towards the last part of the regular season in the NBA. As some teams are trying to make required adjustments for the post-season, the strive for playoff spots is in full throttle. Amongst the new acquisitions, Kristaps Porzingis made his debut for the Washington Wizards to lead them against with 25 points. Davis ...
Jonas Valanciunas had 17 points and 14 rebounds in last night's Pelicans comfortable victory over Kings with his countryman Domantas Sabonis on the Sacramento squad. After the game, JV discussed the team's decision to wear yellow socks in support of Ukraine. Moreover, he sent a message to the Ukrainian people, who are suffering from the outgoing war. "It is tough to talk about that topic because ...
A day after Russia launched an invasion into Ukraine, New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas spoke out in opposition to the conflict. The 29-year-old Lithuanian expressed his support for the Ukrainian people to Christian Clark of NOLA.com. "First of all, I want to say my heart and prayers go to the Ukraine people, who are innocent," Valanciunas said. "People who are suffering, dying, and ...
New Orleans Pelicans, no matter how the next few days play out for them, are trying to fortify their Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas, and Herbert Jones core, via Marc Stein. That also means Josh Hart, who has had an outstanding season (13.4 PTS, 7.8 REB, 4.1 AST) but who possesses a very tradeable contract, could move this week, according to the report. Valanciunas has ...
Jonas Valanciunas was announced as the best Lithuanian basketball player of 2021. New Orleans Pelicans center retrieved such title after a four-year break. The last time Valanciunas won this award was in 2017. It was the fifth time Valanciunas was announced as the best Lithuanian basketball player of the year. "It's a big honor, Valanciunas said in the press release. "It's my fifth award, thanks ...
This week was not particularly flash for many Euro-NBA players, and injuries played a big factor behind that. Giannis Antetokounmpo missed two games after a 40-point performance against the Hornets with the game-winning layup as an answer to LaMelo Ball's clutch three to tie the game. Bogdan Bogdanovic is still trying to recover from the problem in the ankle. Luka Doncic's intervention was not ...
Jonas Valanciunas turned many heads when he hit seven of his attempted wight three-point shots in the Pelicans' win (123-104) over the Clippers on Monday night. That was an impressive performance for the Lithuanian big who only went 1-of-4 from 3-point range on his first five seasons in the league, from 2012 through 2017.Overall, Valanciunas scored a career-high 39 points to go along with 15 ...
Jonas Valanciunas isn’t your traditional type of center anymore. In a 123-104 win against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Lithuanian big accumulated career-high 39 points (8/16 2PT, 7/8 3PT, 2/2 FT), 15 rebounds, and 3 assists. 39 points are the second-best performance by a Lithuanian NBA player. Linas Kleiza remains the top scorer, who scored 41 points against the Utah Jazz back in 2008. Up ...
Jonas Valanciunas is the most accurate three-point shooter (56.4% 3PT) in the NBA. Regarding this theme, the 29-year-old gave the interview before the New Orleans Pelicans game against Minnesota Timberwolves. "I am just working on three-point shots before and after practice," said the Lithuanian center about his impressive accuracy. "Also watching the film where I can 'pop' more, where I can space ...
NBA Regular Season is already unfolding, and the newest storylines have been started to unravel with full speed. How about the European players? BasketNews brought remarkable weekly highlights from the NBA, with a special focus on the European exports overseas. European coaches love Jazz One of the most salient European stories of the past week in the NBA is not a player story but an overall team ...
New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas has agreed on a two-year extension worth $30.1 million, via Andrew Lopez of ESPN. Valanciunas is now committed to the Pelicans for $44.1M over the next three seasons. According to Bobby Marks, the two-year $14.7M and $15.4M extension was the maximum that New Orleans could offer right now. Valanciunas was traded in the off-season and the most he could ...
US sports media juggernauts ESPN have released the first half of their annual NBA player Top 100 ranking. They have included six European players among the second half of the ranking. 33-year-old Italian forward Danilo Gallinari came in at the 99th spot after averaging 13.3 points (40.6% 3PT), 4.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists for the Atlanta Hawks last season. Next on the list, they have Jonas ...
NBA 2K22 is coming out this Friday, and players' ratings are being released. European with the highest ranking is the latest NBA champion and Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, rated at 96. The current regular-season MVP, Nikola Jokic, comes second with a rating of 95. Luka Doncic, whose rating is 94, is the third among Europeans. Interestingly, Slovenian’s rating remained the same as it was ...
Memphis Grizzlies are finalizing a trade to send Jonas Valanciunas to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe, and NBA Draft pick swaps, Adrien Wojnarowski of ESPN reports. The Grizzlies would also send the 2021 NBA Draft 17th and 51st picks to New Orleans in exchange for 2021 NBA Draft 10th and 40th picks, as well as a protected 2022 first-round pick. Valanciunas, 29, ...
With club basketball season rolling toward its end, fans turn their attention to the national team competitions. This year we're delighted to have Olympic Games, where basketball is among its most popular sporting disciplines. Twelve teams will battle from July 25 till August 7 with hopes of dethroning Team USA that won gold during the last three Olympics. Eight teams already have tickets to Japan ...
Undeniably all eyes will be on Luka here in Kaunas. After four years, Luka Doncic is set to lead his National Team again. The Dallas Mavericks guard is the brightest star of all four Olympic Qualifying Tournaments. But there will be more things to watch in Kaunas. BasketNews.com gives you a few more reasons to stay tuned with Kaunas OQT. Basketball island Emotions will boil again on the famous ...