Jonas Valanciunas has officially concluded his 14-season tenure in the NBA by signing a two-year contract with Zalgiris Kaunas, the historic Lithuanian club where his professional journey began. The 34-year-old center, recognized as the all-time top scorer for Lithuanians in NBA history, will return to compete in the EuroLeague and domestic leagues through the 2027-28 season, marking a significant homecoming for one of Europe’s most decorated basketball exports .
The announcement, confirmed by Zalgiris Kaunas on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, signals a definitive shift for Valanciunas from the North American spotlight back to the European stage he dominated before his 2011 draft selection. This move ends a lengthy chapter that included appearances in 1,002 regular-season games across six different franchises, establishing him as a durable and reliable interior force for nearly a decade and a half .
Contract Structure and Financial Expectations
While the official agreement does not publicly disclose the financial terms, multiple sports reporting sources have provided estimates regarding the value of Valanciunas’s new deal. The contract is structured to run for two full seasons, providing the veteran with a stable runway to finish his playing career in his home country .
According to reports from BasketNews, the financial breakdown of the agreement is expected to total approximately €5 million, which translates to roughly $5.5 million in US dollars over the two-year period . This figure represents a notable decision for Valanciunas, as a minimum-salary, two-year deal in the NBA at that time would have reportedly paid closer to $8 million pre-tax, though European salaries are typically cited as post-tax totals, making the net value competitive . Earlier reports from Lithuanian journalist Jonas Lekšas suggested the first season salary alone could be around €2 million, with discussions progressing positively toward a guaranteed two-year extension .
| Contract Detail | Specifics |
|---|---|
| Duration | Two years (through 2027-28 season) |
| Estimated Total Value | €5 million (~$5.5 million) |
| First Season Salary | Approx. €2 million (reported) |
| Team | Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania/EuroLeague) |
| Official Announcement Date | July 15, 2026 |
The signing completes Zalgiris’s roster for the upcoming 2026-27 season, with the club indicating no further additions are expected. Valanciunas will join a roster that already features several players with NBA experience, including Carsen Edwards, Saben Lee, Nigel Williams-Goss, and Sterling Brown, creating a lineup with significant professional depth .
From Denver to Kaunas: The Path Home
Valanciunas’s departure from the NBA was triggered by his release from the Denver Nuggets just one week prior to the Zalgiris announcement. During his single season in Denver, the 34-year-old played in 65 games, serving primarily as a backup center behind Nikola Jokic. His statistical output in that final NBA stretch included 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, averaging 13.4 minutes of play .
Although Valanciunas reportedly received interest from multiple other NBA teams following his release, he elected to prioritize a return to Lithuania over pursuing another North American opportunity. This decision reflects a clear intention to settle into a new phase of his career rather than treating the move as a temporary stopover. The two-year commitment underscores his desire to conclude his playing days on home soil, reuniting with the club that launched his international profile .
A Legacy of 14 NBA Seasons
Valanciunas leaves the league with a resume that spans 14 full seasons and 1,002 career games, a testament to his durability and consistent value across multiple franchises. His career journey included stints with six different teams, traversing nearly every region of the league:
- Toronto Raptors (2011–2015)
- New Orleans Pelicans (2015–2019)
- Memphis Grizzlies (2019–2021)
- Washington Wizards (2021–2022)
- Sacramento Kings (2022–2024)
- Denver Nuggets (2024–2026)
Across this extensive timeline, Valanciunas compiled career averages of 12.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, numbers that place him among the most productive centers of his generation. He was selected as the fifth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors and earned second-team All-Rookie honors in 2013, appearing in 854 starts throughout his career .
Before entering the NBA, Valanciunas played for two international clubs in Lithuania: Perlas Vilnius and Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius. His return to Zalgiris Kaunas brings his career back to the exact environment where his professional basketball identity was first forged, closing a 14-year loop that took him from the Lithuanian domestic league to the pinnacle of American basketball and back .
As the 2026-27 season approaches, the basketball world will watch closely to see how Valanciunas’s NBA-honed skills translate to the EuroLeague game. For Zalgiris, the acquisition is both a strategic boost and a sentimental homecoming, welcoming back the top Lithuanian scorer in NBA history to compete on the stage where his legend began .