Jonas Valanciunas was expected to back up three-time MVP Nikola Jokic in Denver. Now, he might be backing out of the NBA altogether.
Just days after reports surfaced of a trade agreement that would send Valanciunas from the Sacramento Kings to the Nuggets in exchange for Dario Šaric, the 33-year-old center is reportedly eyeing a move overseas.
According to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews, Valanciunas is considering a return to Europe to play for Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos Athens—an interest later confirmed by longtime league insider Marc Stein.
League sources confirm that the lure of a return to Europe holds strong appeal to Jonas Valanciunas … which could lead to him seeking a buyout from his NBA contract to join Panathinaikos as @Urbodo reports.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 3, 2025
Would scuttle what seemed like such a promising addition for Denver.
While the Nuggets and Kings have agreed to the deal, it cannot become official until Monday (PH time), July 7. That window has left time for Valanciunas to reconsider his next move—one that could involve a contract buyout to pave the way for his return to the EuroLeague, where he first turned pro more than a decade ago.
Valanciunas has spent 13 seasons in the league and everaged 13.1 points and 9.3 rebounds over 937 games, including 848 starts.
He was drafted fifth overall by the Toronto Raptors in 2011 but didn’t make his NBA debut until the 2012–13 season after spending another year with Rytas Vilnius in Lithuania. He has since suited up for the Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Washington Wizards, and Sacramento Kings.
Known for his physical presence, rebounding, and soft touch around the rim, Valanciunas was a double-double machine during his time in Memphis, averaging 16.4 points and 11.7 rebounds across three seasons from 2018 to 2021.
Denver had hoped to make the Lithuanian big man part of a broader offseason shake-up aimed at bolstering its bench and preserving Jokic for another deep playoff run.
The Nuggets, who lost in the Western Conference semifinals to eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games, had already acquired Cam Johnson in a trade that sent Michael Porter Jr. to Brooklyn. They also reunited with free agent Bruce Brown and added veteran scorer Tim Hardaway Jr.
[ALSO READ: Denver Nuggets add Tim Hardaway, acquire Jonas Valanciunas in busy offseason—reports]
Valanciunas was expected to bring veteran depth to the frontcourt, but with the possibility of him heading back to Europe, the Nuggets may be left with another hole to fill.
