Nikola Jokić's backup commits to Nuggets after EuroLeague flirtation
Valančiūnas has changed all that by taking the professional route. On Monday, BasketNews' Donatas Urbonas shared an unofficial statement from the Lithuanian center in which he "fully" committed to the Nuggets' mission of winning the 2025-2026 NBA championship. While mostly unfounded, there were lingering questions about whether Valančiūnas would continue to spar with the Nuggets over staying in the NBA. Given Valančiūnas's status as a potential quality innings eater to help keep three-time league MVP Nikola Jokić fresh over the course of an entire season, these were more than fair concerns.
Valančiūnas has put those questions to rest by proactively stating his full intentions for Denver out in the open, thereby ensuring everyone associated with the Nuggets doesn't have to worry about him pulling out the rug at the last moment through the rest of the summer:
After enjoying one of the best offseasons of anyone in the NBA, the Nuggets now have one less problem to worry about. Obstacles will assuredly still arise here and there. You know, like they do for everyone. But Valančiūnas's "will he or won't he?" situation finally coming to an end means this championship contender can start focusing on gearing up for the long haul in earnest. It can start focusing on basketball and basketball alone.
How will Jonas Valančiūnas help the Denver Nuggets?
Valančiūnas's role with the Nuggets should mostly be pretty elementary.
He will be expected to help keep Denver afloat every time Jokić is off the floor. The backup center position has been a major bugaboo for the Nuggets and Jokić, particularly over the last half-decade or so. It had gotten to the point where, most nights, the Nuggets could ill afford to give their best player any extended rest over fears that his backup and a bench lineup would inevitably crater together.
Naturally, this setup has led the Serbian superstar to overextend himself in the regular season and use some of his energy that would have been better utilized in the postseason for a franchise that considers itself a championship contender.
Valančiūnas won't solve all of the Nuggets' problems. He is not a player without flaws, particularly on the defensive end. But he is an experienced offensive player with a reliable bag of tricks he's polished over the years. He should be enough to actually keep Denver afloat whenever Jokić isn't playing. That, in itself, will be a godsend to a team that relies so much on the best basketball player in the world.
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