Jonas Valanciunas is a Lithuanian professional basketball player who currently plays for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA. He has been the face of Lithuanian basketball for many years now, and has represented his country since he was 19 years old. He has been on the silver medal-winning teams for Lithuania in the 2013 and 2015 Eurobasket. In the 2015 edition, he was named on the All-Tournament team.
Valanciunas’s basketball career, however, did not begin with the NBA. He started playing professionally for Perlas Vilnus in the Lithuanian National Basketball League, NKL, the second-level Lithuanian professional league before moving to the top-tier basketball league in Lithuania, the Lithuanian Basketball League, LKL, the following season. In 2010, Valanciunas moved to Lieutvos Rytas, where he was named Lithuania Basketball Player of the Year in 2011, 2012 and 2014. He was also named FIBA European Young Player of the Year twice, in 2012 and 2013. After the 2011-12 season, Valanciunas declared for the NBA draft.
Valanciunas was picked 5th overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors and was considered by many as a top prospect. In his rookie season, he averaged 7.3 rebounds per game, and that number only increased every season. Valanciunas was a very important piece in Raptors' multiple playoff runs in the 2010s.
In 2016, Valanciunas re-signed with the Raptors on a 4-year $64 million deal, one of the biggest contracts at the time. However in 2019, he was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies where he played for two seasons and averaged 16.4 points and 11.8 rebounds per game.
Valanciunas then moved to the New Orleans Pelicans, where he is currently playing. In the 2022/23 season, he played 79 games and averaged 14.1 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.7 blocks per game.
Jonas Valanciunas age
Jonas Valanciunas is 31 years old. He was born on May 6, 1992. In 12 NBA seasons, Valanciunas has averaged 13.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, on 56.1% shooting from the field, including 35.7% from 3-point range.
For the 2023/24 NBA season, Valanciunas will earn over $15.4 million. He will be an unrestricted free agent in 2024.
FAQs
A. Jonas Valanciunas is 31 years old.
A. Jonas Valanciunas currently plays for the New Orleans Pelicans.
A. Jonas Valanciunas is from Lithuania.
A. Jonas Valanciunas was picked fifth overall by the Toronto Raptors.
