Jonas Valanciunas Eyes Move to Panathinaikos Athens

Denver, CO – NBA center Jonas Valanciunas is reportedly close to accepting a lucrative offer from Greek basketball club Panathinaikos Athens. Sources close to the situation, reported by BasketNews, indicate that the 33-year-old Lithuanian veteran is considering a three-year deal worth nearly €12 million, approximately $13 million.

Valanciunas has had a lengthy career in the NBA, averaging 13.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists over his 13 seasons. He recently joined the Denver Nuggets in a trade from the Sacramento Kings but is now leaning towards a move to Europe.

Current NBA contracts would keep Valanciunas in Denver through the 2025-26 season, where he is set to earn $10.4 million unless the team opts to extend his contract for another year at $10 million. Despite this, the opportunity to play significant minutes in a stable environment with a team aiming for the EuroLeague title is appealing.

Panathinaikos has reportedly identified Valanciunas as their top target on the market, fueling speculation about his future. For Valanciunas, this could represent a chance at long-term stability in a prominent European league.

In 2021, Valanciunas was a fifth overall pick in the NBA Draft and has played for the Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, and Washington Wizards. He aims to contribute meaningfully to whichever team he represents next.