Valančiūnas Embraces Team Role, Eyes NBA Championship with Nuggets
DENVER, CO – September 30, 2024 – Jonas Valančiūnas arrived at Denver Nuggets training camp focused on a team-first approach and a championship pursuit, dismissing any lingering concerns about a possibly reduced role. The Lithuanian center, fresh off competing with the national team in preparation for “Eurobasket 2025,” emphatically stated his commitment to the present and future, declaring, “If I weren’t happy, I wouldn’t be hear. What was in the past, should stay in the past. Now we have a future. We all have our jobs to do to make our future brighter.”
Valančiūnas’s positive outlook comes as the Nuggets begin preparations for a season widely anticipated to be a championship contender. Analysts consistently rank Denver among the NBA’s elite,a fact that considerably fuels Valančiūnas’s motivation. the team’s success hinges on a collective effort, a concept Valančiūnas readily embraces despite sharing frontcourt minutes with reigning MVP Nikola Jokić.
The veteran center utilized a brief offseason – punctuated by participation with the Lithuanian national team – to maintain peak physical condition. “I had two free weeks, which was plenty of time to recover,” Valančiūnas explained.”I actually feel in better shape than I would have if I’d had a fully free summer. I played in a competitive tournament, my body feels good, and I’m ready to move forward.”
Valančiūnas underscored that championship aspirations are his primary focus. “The opportunity to win is what excites me the most,” he said. “I don’t need anyone to convince me or prove anything to anyone. I want to do everything I can to become champions. I’ll do whatever it takes, no matter what my role is. We have a great opportunity.”
He emphasized the importance of team chemistry and collective effort, stating, “I intend to try to play in a way that we win more games than ever before. I think we have a great opportunity to compete at the highest level. We have individually strong players, and I think we can become strong as a team, as, from my personal perspective, a team wins. This isn’t an individual sport. We need to build chemistry.”
Denver Nuggets training camp commences tomorrow,signaling the start of intensive preparation for the 2024-2025 NBA season. Valančiūnas, a key addition to an already formidable roster, is poised to contribute to a team aiming for the league’s ultimate prize.
