Nuggets execs have ‘no concerns’ Jonas Valanciunas will honor his contract

The Denver Nuggets held a press conference to introduce new forward Cam Johnson on Friday, but Jonas Valanciunas was also a topic of conversation.

There’s been all kinds of speculation about the future of Valanciunas in the NBA this offseason, after the Nuggets acquired the backup center from the Sacramento Kings in a deal for Dario Saric.

Valanciunas hasn’t exactly been committed to playing in Denver, with multiple reports saying he’d like to suit of for Panathinaikos in Greece instead.

Jonas Valanciunas made some vague comments about his intentions, but the Nuggets have been clear all along they expect him on the roster.

That continued on Friday, with new front office executives Ben Tenzer and Jonathan Wallace both at the podium alongside Johnson. When asked about that the Valanciunas situation, Tenzer was brief but clear.

“Yeah, we’ve had great conversations with him and there’s been nothing but healthy conversations in terms of him honoring his contract and him excited to be a Nugget,” Tenzer said.

Jonas Valanciunas will play for Lithuania in EuroBasket this summer, and a reporter asked if the Nuggets will be there to talk with him as well as when Valanciunas will come to Denver.

“I mean, we’re still working through that right now. He’s going to be playing (in EuroBasket). There are plans for him to get here sooner than later, but still working through that and we’ll approach it at that time,” Wallace said.

The follow up was then asked if there are concerns if Valanciunas will be on the Nuggets roster and ready for opening night of the 2025-26 NBA season.

“No concerns,” Tenzer said.

The reality is Valanciunas is under contract with the Nuggets for more than $10 million this upcoming year. And both Wallace and Tenzer have no intentions of letting him out of that commitment.

They also maintain that come the first game of the year, he’ll be on the court for Denver, backing up superstar Nikola Jokic.

The saga feels close to ending, but the entire fanbase will feel better once Jonas Valanciunas arrives in the Mile High City and makes some sort of comment about his willingness and excitement to play for the Nuggets.

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