The basketball world has witnessed a historic homecoming as Jonas Valanciunas, the all-time leading Lithuanian scorer in NBA history, officially concludes his 14-season American career to join Zalgiris Kaunas. The 34-year-old center has signed a two-year contract with his country’s most prestigious club, a move announced on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, that reunites the veteran with the team and nation where his professional journey began decades ago. This decision marks a definitive shift from the high-velocity environment of the National Basketball Association back to the tactical and passionate landscape of European EuroLeague competition.
Valanciunas’s arrival in Kaunas represents a massive strategic upgrade for Zalgiris, which has completed its roster for the upcoming 2026-27 season with this signing. The club’s official social media channels celebrated the deal by highlighting his unique status as the most prolific Lithuanian player to ever compete in the NBA. While the specific financial figures were not initially disclosed by the organization, reports from BasketNews indicate that Valanciunas is expected to earn approximately €5 million, or roughly $5.5 million, over the duration of the two-year agreement. This sum, while lower than what a minimum-salary NBA deal might have offered in pre-tax terms, reflects the post-tax reality of European salaries and solidifies his commitment to settling in Lithuania for the long term rather than seeking a short-term stopover.
The path to this return was paved by the Denver Nuggets waiving Valanciunas just last week, freeing him to finalize his European transition. His stint in Denver, which comprised only one season of his extensive career, saw the 34-year-old appear in 65 games as a backup center behind Nikola Jokić. During that tenure, he averaged 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest in just 13.4 minutes of play, numbers that reflected a reduced role compared to his earlier years as a primary offensive option. Despite the limited minutes, his durability and consistent output remained evident, but the release opened the necessary door for him to return to the EuroLeague, where he had not played since leaving for the NBA in 2011.
Valanciunas leaves the NBA with a resume that spans 1,002 career games and coverage across six different franchises, demonstrating both his longevity and his value to various teams. His journey began with a selection as the fifth overall pick by the Toronto Raptors in the 2011 draft, followed by significant stints with the Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Washington Wizards, and Sacramento Kings before his final year in Denver. Across this entire 14-year span, he compiled career averages of 12.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, establishing himself as a reliable interior presence who could consistently deliver scoring and rebounding production. His ability to maintain such high-level performance over more than a millennium of games underscores a career built on remarkable durability and skill, making his arrival in Kaunas a significant event for Lithuanian basketball fans.
With the ink now dry on his contract, Valanciunas is set to operate as the top option at the center spot for Zalgiris, bringing over a decade of elite NBA experience to a roster that already includes several players with American ties such as Carsen Edwards and Saben Lee. The two-year commitment signals a clear intention to anchor the team’s defense and offense as they compete in both the domestic Lithuanian Basketball League and the EuroLeague. For Zalgiris president Paulius Jankunas, the signing is a homecoming story of immense pride, welcoming back a player who has been a seven-time Lithuanian Basketball Player of the Year. As the 2026-27 season approaches, the basketball community will be watching closely to see how Valanciunas’s NBA-honed skills translate back to the European game, where his impact is expected to be immediate and transformative for the club’s championship aspirations.