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In light of the recent responses to the acquisition of Jonas Valanciunas through a trade with the Sacramento Kings, David Adelman elaborated on his expectations for the 33-year-old Lithuanian center in the Denver Nuggets’ plans for the 2025-26 season.
“We’ve brought in a backup big man who we believe will greatly enhance our bench, and naturally, support Nikola [Jokic] as well,” he articulated during an interview posted on the franchise’s official YouTube channel on Wednesday.
“We aimed to identify players that fit our needs rather than just signing recognizable names,” he reflected on the offseason strategy to strengthen his team’s roster. “We believe all of these additions will synergize well with the established group that has achieved so much here in Denver. From my conversations with Aaron [Gordon], Jamal [Murray], and Nikola [Jokic], I can tell you that there’s a lot of excitement among them.”
Despite interest from EuroLeague team Panathinaikos Aktor, Adelman reiterated his commitment to Valanciunas as a key player for the Nuggets.
“You can run plays through him,” he assessed Valanciunas’s impact. “People often overlook how effective DeMarcus Cousins was for us during the latter part of that season. Jonas can be a strong presence against smaller lineups. He’s skilled in the post, a solid option for dribble handoffs, and a valuable playmaker from the elbows, allowing guards to work through him.”
“And in games when Jokic isn’t on the court, we’re fortunate to have a starting-quality center like him as our backup. We feel incredibly lucky to have secured his services,” the 44-year-old coach remarked. “I’m eagerly anticipating his arrival in the United States and in Denver. We’re thrilled to have him join us.”
Before potentially taking the floor in the NBA or EuroLeague for the 2025-26 season, Valanciunas is currently focused on representing Lithuania in EuroBasket 2025.
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