Jonas Valanciunas Set to Return to Europe, Commits to Zalgiris Kaunas Pending his release from the Denver Nuggets After 14 NBA Seasons
Apr 27, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas (17) controls the ball as Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) guards in the fourth quarter during game five of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
After 14 seasons in the NBA, Jonas Valanciunas it looks as though he is heading back to Europe. The Lithuanian center has committed to Zalgiris Kaunas, the announcement coming on June 23, 2026. However, the deal is not yet official — it remains contingent on the Denver Nuggets releasing him before the July 8, 2026 deadline.
Valanciunas spent the 2025-2026 season with Denver, where he played a reduced role off the bench. In 69 games, he averaged 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game — numbers that reflect a player well past his prime years as a starter. His $10 million contract carries only a $2 million guarantee prior to July 8, making a waiver decision straightforward for the Nuggets. Denver is widely expected to cut him, clearing the path for this agreement to become a full signing.
A Homecoming with Historical Weight
For Valanciunas, joining Zalgiris Kaunas would be far more than a career move — it would be a return to Lithuanian basketball royalty. The center had previously teased interest in the EuroLeague in late May 2026, and this commitment confirms those signals were serious. Returning to compete in Europe’s top club competition after a decade and a half in the NBA is a rare and significant moment in basketball history.
Zalgiris is clearly building with ambition this summer. The Lithuanian club has also added Marek Blazevic from the Basketball Champions League, Sterling Brown from Partizan, and Carsen Edwards, signaling a strong push in what has been a particularly active EuroLeague transfer market in the summer of 2026.
A Busy EuroLeague Offseason
The Valanciunas commitment is one of several high-profile moves shaking up the European landscape this summer. Clubs across the EuroLeague have been aggressive in reshaping their rosters, and Zalgiris appears to be among the most active, assembling a group with both NBA pedigree and European experience.
Still, it bears repeating: this is an agreement in principle, not a finalized contract. Until Denver officially waives Valanciunas — expected before July 8, 2026 — the deal cannot be formalized. Once that procedural step is completed, one of the most decorated Lithuanian players in NBA history will officially begin his European chapter.
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