Jonas Valanciunas is one of the most reliable and respected big men in the NBA. Known for his strong presence in the paint and consistent double-doubles, Valanciunas has built a solid career across multiple teams. As of 2025, he continues to make an impact on the court, now wearing the Sacramento Kings jersey.
Let’s take a closer look at his personal life, early and professional career, family, financial details, and basketball stats.
Jonas Valanciunas Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jonas Valančiūnas |
| Date of Birth | May 6, 1992 |
| Age | 32 |
| Education | N/A |
| Nationality | Lithuanian |
| Height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Weight | 265 lbs (120 kg) |
| Turned Pro | 2008 |
| Net Worth | $35 million |
| Salary (2024-25) | $9,900,000 |
| Career Earnings | $145,756,944 |
| Wife | Egle Valanciuniene |
| Children | 2 sons |
| Instagram Profile | @jonasvalanciunas |
| Twitter Profile | @JValanciunas |
Early Career
Jonas Valanciunas was born in Utena, Lithuania, on May 6, 1992. He grew up in a small town in northeastern Lithuania, where basketball is a national passion. From a young age, Jonas stood out for his height and coordination, making him a natural fit for the game. His basketball journey began with local youth teams, where he quickly became known for his rebounding and shot-blocking abilities.
At just 16, Valanciunas started his professional career with Perlas Vilnius in the Lithuanian National Basketball League. Despite his youth, he made an immediate impact, averaging solid numbers and showing maturity beyond his years.
His performances caught the attention of Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius, one of Lithuania’s top basketball clubs. In 2010, he signed a long-term deal with Lietuvos Rytas, marking a significant step up in competition and exposure.
With Lietuvos Rytas, Valanciunas played in both the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) and the EuroLeague, Europe’s premier club competition. He quickly became a key player, helping his team win domestic titles and earning recognition as one of the top young prospects in Europe. His blend of size, skill, and basketball IQ made him a standout, and NBA scouts took notice.
Valanciunas’s international career also began early. He represented Lithuania in various youth tournaments, often dominating his age group. In 2011, he led Lithuania to a gold medal at the FIBA Under-19 World Championship and was named tournament MVP. This performance solidified his reputation as a future star and set the stage for his entry into the NBA.
By the time the 2011 NBA Draft arrived, Valanciunas was considered one of the top international prospects. The Toronto Raptors selected him with the fifth overall pick, a testament to his potential and achievements in Europe. However, he remained in Lithuania for one more season to continue his development before making the jump to the NBA.
Professional Career
Jonas Valanciunas officially joined the Toronto Raptors for the 2012-13 NBA season. As a rookie, he quickly adapted to the North American style of play, averaging 8.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. His size and skill set made him a reliable presence in the paint, and he earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors.
Over the next several seasons, Valanciunas established himself as a cornerstone for the Raptors. He improved his scoring, rebounding, and defensive abilities each year. By the 2014-15 season, he was averaging double figures in points and close to double-digit rebounds. Valanciunas played a key role in the Raptors’ rise as a playoff contender, helping the team reach the postseason multiple times.
In 2016, Valanciunas signed a four-year, $64 million contract extension with Toronto, reflecting his importance to the franchise. He continued to deliver consistent performances, especially in the playoffs, where his rebounding and inside scoring were crucial. However, in 2019, the Raptors traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of a deal to acquire Marc Gasol.
With the Grizzlies, Valanciunas took on a larger role and posted some of the best numbers of his career. He averaged over 16 points and 11 rebounds per game during his time in Memphis, proving he could be a primary option on offense. His strong play helped mentor younger teammates and kept the Grizzlies competitive in the tough Western Conference.
In 2021, Valanciunas was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. There, he continued his trend of double-doubles, averaging around 17 points and 11 rebounds per game. His veteran presence and leadership were valuable for the Pelicans’ young core. He also expanded his game, adding a reliable three-point shot to his arsenal.
By 2024, Valanciunas had been traded to the Washington Wizards, where he played 49 games before being moved to the Sacramento Kings. As of the 2024-25 season, he is a key rotation player for the Kings, providing experience, toughness, and efficient scoring and rebounding.
Throughout his NBA journey, Valanciunas has been known for his durability, professionalism, and ability to adapt to different roles. He has played over 900 NBA games, averaging a career double-double and earning respect as one of the league’s most consistent centers.
In addition to his NBA career, Valanciunas has been a mainstay for the Lithuanian national team, winning silver medals at EuroBasket 2013 and 2015 and representing his country in multiple international tournaments.
Wife
Jonas Valanciunas is married to Egle Valanciuniene, formerly known as Egle Acaite. The couple met in Lithuania and began dating before Jonas made his NBA debut.
They got married in 2013, shortly after Jonas joined the Raptors. Egle comes from a family with a strong political background in Lithuania; her parents, Remigijus Acas and Vida Aciene, have both held important positions in government.
Egle is a businesswoman who once ran an online shopping website in Kaunas. Now, she focuses on being a full-time mother to their two sons. Their first son, Jonas Valanciunas Jr., was born in March 2015.
Their second son was born in 2017, though his name has not been publicly shared. The Valanciunas family is known to be private, with Egle maintaining a low profile on social media and appearing mainly in photos shared by Jonas.
Jonas Valanciunas Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Jonas Valanciunas’s net worth is estimated to be $35 million.
Contract
Jonas Valanciunas is currently playing under a three-year, $30.29 million contract with the Sacramento Kings that he signed in the summer of 2024. This deal came through a sign-and-trade arrangement that brought him from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Kings.
The contract is structured with descending annual salaries, paying him $9.9 million for the 2024-25 season, followed by $10.4 million for 2025-26. The final year (2026-27) includes a team option worth $10 million, giving the Kings flexibility for their future roster planning.
This contract represents a decrease from his previous deal with the Pelicans, which paid him $14.7 million annually, reflecting the changing market for traditional centers in the NBA. Despite the salary reduction, the multi-year security was valuable for Valanciunas as he entered his thirties, allowing him to continue his career with a playoff-contending team while maintaining his role as a reliable veteran big man.
Salary
For the 2024-25 NBA season, Jonas Valanciunas is earning a base salary of $9,900,000 with the Sacramento Kings. This salary is part of his three-year contract and reflects his status as a seasoned and dependable center in the league.
While this amount is lower than his previous annual earnings with the New Orleans Pelicans, it still places him among the more experienced and well-compensated players on the Kings roster.
The salary structure gives both Valanciunas and the team flexibility, rewarding his veteran leadership and consistent on-court production as he continues to play a key role for Sacramento.
Career Earnings
| Season | Team(s) | Salary (USD) | Cumulative Earnings (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-13 | Toronto Raptors | $3,374,640 | $3,374,640 |
| 2013-14 | Toronto Raptors | $3,526,440 | $6,901,080 |
| 2014-15 | Toronto Raptors | $3,678,360 | $10,579,440 |
| 2015-16 | Toronto Raptors | $4,660,482 | $15,239,922 |
| 2016-17 | Toronto Raptors | $14,382,022 | $29,621,944 |
| 2017-18 | Toronto Raptors | $15,460,674 | $45,082,618 |
| 2018-19 | Raptors/Grizzlies | $16,539,326 | $61,621,944 |
| 2019-20 | Memphis Grizzlies | $15,000,000 | $76,621,944 |
| 2020-21 | Memphis Grizzlies | $15,000,000 | $91,621,944 |
| 2021-22 | New Orleans Pelicans | $14,000,000 | $105,621,944 |
| 2022-23 | New Orleans Pelicans | $14,700,000 | $120,321,944 |
| 2023-24 | New Orleans Pelicans | $15,435,000 | $135,756,944 |
| 2024-25 | Washington/Sacramento | $9,900,000 | $145,656,944 |
| 2025-26 | Sacramento Kings | $10,395,000 | $156,051,944 |
| 2026-27 | Sacramento Kings | $10,000,000 | $166,051,944 |
Endorsements
Jonas Valanciunas has maintained a modest but steady endorsement portfolio throughout his NBA career. His most notable partnership was with GoDaddy for their popular “Itty Bitty Ballers” campaign in 2017, which featured miniature figurines of Valanciunas in various poses that became collector’s items among Raptors fans.
He has also secured deals with Lithuanian companies like Švyturys, a prominent beer brand in his home country, leveraging his status as one of Lithuania’s most successful basketball exports.
Additionally, Valanciunas has partnered with Uber for regional promotional campaigns and has appeared in advertisements for Nike Basketball, though not as a signature athlete. Unlike some NBA stars with extensive endorsement portfolios, Valanciunas has focused on quality partnerships that align with his down-to-earth personality and European roots.
His business ventures extend beyond traditional endorsements, as he became a shareholder in Lithuanian basketball club BC Wolves in 2022, demonstrating his commitment to growing the sport in his homeland while building his post-playing career investment portfolio.
NBA Career Stats
| Season | Team(s) | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-13 | Raptors | 62 | 8.9 | 6.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.3 |
| 2013-14 | Raptors | 81 | 11.3 | 8.8 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.9 |
| 2014-15 | Raptors | 80 | 12.0 | 8.7 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 1.2 |
| 2015-16 | Raptors | 60 | 12.8 | 9.1 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.3 |
| 2016-17 | Raptors | 80 | 12.0 | 9.5 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.8 |
| 2017-18 | Raptors | 77 | 12.7 | 8.6 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.9 |
| 2018-19 | Raptors/Grizzlies | 49 | 15.6 | 8.6 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 1.1 |
| 2019-20 | Grizzlies | 70 | 14.9 | 11.3 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 1.1 |
| 2020-21 | Grizzlies | 62 | 17.1 | 12.5 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.9 |
| 2021-22 | Pelicans | 74 | 17.8 | 11.4 | 2.6 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
| 2022-23 | Pelicans | 79 | 14.1 | 10.2 | 1.8 | 0.3 | 0.7 |
| 2023-24 | Pelicans | 82 | 12.2 | 8.8 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.8 |
| 2024-25 | Wizards/Kings | 78 | 10.4 | 7.8 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
| Career | 934 | 13.1 | 9.3 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.9 |
FAQs
1. Who is Jonas Valanciunas and which NBA team does he play for?
Jonas Valanciunas is a Lithuanian professional basketball player who currently plays as a center for the Sacramento Kings in the NBA. He was born on May 6, 1992, in Utena, Lithuania, and has had a long NBA career with teams including the Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Washington Wizards, and now the Kings.
2. What are some of Jonas Valanciunas’s career highlights and achievements?
Valanciunas was selected fifth overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors. He won Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month in March 2013 and was named MVP of the 2013 Las Vegas Summer League. Internationally, he has earned two EuroBasket silver medals with Lithuania and was named to the All-Tournament Team in 2015.
3. How has Jonas Valanciunas performed statistically in recent NBA seasons?
During the 2023-24 NBA season, Valanciunas played all 82 games for the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, and shooting 55.9% from the field. In the 2024-25 season with the Washington Wizards, he averaged 11.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in just under 20 minutes per game.
4. What is Jonas Valanciunas known for on the basketball court?
Valanciunas is recognized as one of the NBA’s most consistent and productive big men, especially in rebounding and post scoring. He is known for his offensive rebounding, ability to create second-chance points, and reliable scoring near the basket. He is also valued for his professionalism and durability.
5. Has Jonas Valanciunas played for the Lithuanian national basketball team?
Yes, Valanciunas has been a member of the Lithuanian men’s national basketball team since he was 19. He helped Lithuania win silver medals at EuroBasket 2013 and 2015, and he has played in major international tournaments including the FIBA World Cup and the Olympics.
6. What are some notable records or milestones Jonas Valanciunas has achieved?
Valanciunas has set several records, such as recording a double-double in his first NBA game, being the first non-American to win Las Vegas Summer League MVP, and setting franchise playoff rebounding records for the Raptors. He also achieved his first career triple-double in August 2020.
7. What has been Jonas Valanciunas’s role and impact on his recent teams?
Valanciunas has been a reliable starter and key contributor, known for his consistency and team-first attitude. In the 2023-24 season, he was the only Pelicans player to appear in all 82 games, and his presence on the court was linked to the team’s success in games where he had strong performances in scoring and rebounding.
8. How do coaches and teammates view Jonas Valanciunas’s professionalism?
Valanciunas is widely respected for his professionalism, work ethic, and willingness to put team success above personal statistics. He has been praised for maintaining a positive attitude, even when his playing time decreased, and for being a strong locker room presence.
9. What challenges has Jonas Valanciunas faced during his career?
Valanciunas has faced challenges such as adapting to reduced minutes, fitting into different team systems, and dealing with losing seasons, such as with the Washington Wizards. He has spoken openly about the emotional difficulty of losing and his desire to avoid becoming accustomed to it.
10. Has Jonas Valanciunas been involved in trade rumors or free agency discussions?
Valanciunas has frequently been mentioned in trade rumors, especially during his time with the Washington Wizards and in connection with teams like the Los Angeles Lakers. He entered free agency in July 2024, and his future has often been a topic of speculation due to his productivity and team needs.
