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Nuggets VP shares (likely) conclusive update about Nikola Jokić's backup

The revitalized NBA title contender Denver Nuggets thought they had finally acquired a competent backup center for Nikola Jokić when they reportedly traded for veteran big man Jonas Valančiūnas at the start of 2025 NBA free agency. However, it was later revealed that Greek EuroLeague club Panathinaikos B.C. had strongly courted Valančiūnas overseas, with the Lithuanian center seriously pondering ending his NBA career. The implication was that Valančiūnas wanted to finish his NBA career so he could be closer to his family in Europe. From there, it sounded like he was willing to surrender his NBA salary in full had the Nuggets granted him permission out of a contract that has two years of team control (and just under $20.4 million total) remaining. Advertisement Naturally, these developments caught the Nuggets off guard, who apparently had no idea Valančiūnas was considering leaving the NBA to play in Greece before making the trade. Ultimately, per NBA reporter Marc Stein, the Nuggets did not grant Valančiūnas's wishes. And this past Saturday, the Valančiūnas trade was finalized after Denver had finished shuffling around unrelated moving parts. As of Tuesday morning, it seems like an abject certainty that he will play in the 2025-2026 NBA season for Denver. That's at least according to Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations, Ben Tenzer, who was interviewed by Altitude Sports Radio on Tuesday. Tenzer not only didn't sound concerned about Panathinaikos ever really luring Valančiūnas over from Denver, but he also clarified that he expects the player they call "Big Val" to indeed play for the Nuggets: That sounds very encouraging and confident on the Nuggets' part. All's well that ends well, right? Advertisement Not necessarily. Maybe. Probably. Earlier this week, during a speaking event with Lithuanian basketball, Valančiūnas was weirdly cryptic about his professional future. Hmm: While I have no doubt that Valančiūnas is probably still somewhat upset about how this situation was resolved so far, this isn't necessarily him casting doubt on actually coming over to Denver and playing like a professional. He could have simply been declining to comment on it further until the conclusion of the upcoming EuroBasket tournament in late August and early September. Based on Tenzer's public comments here, it seems likely that Valančiūnas chose that path. I suppose we'll have full clarity soon enough. Well, not that soon, but you get the idea. Advertisement This article originally appeared on For The Win: Nuggets' Ben Tenzer shares definitive update about Jonas Valančiūnas situation