After a disappointing second-round exit and a visibly overburdened Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets have made a decisive move. The franchise announced the signing of Lithuanian center Jonas Valanciunas as the new backup to the two-time MVP, aiming to ease the physical demands on their star and strengthen their frontcourt rotation ahead of the 2025-26 season.
The acquisition came via a trade with the Sacramento Kings, sending Dario Saric in return. The move not only surprised analysts but also prevented Valanciunas from returning to Europe, where Greek powerhouse Panathinaikos had made a lucrative offer. According to head coach David Adelman, the Lithuanian big man represents “a legitimate solution” to the team’s structural needs.
David Adelman compares Valanciunas to Cousins’ impact
In a recent interview with reporter Katie Winge, Adelman explained the rationale behind the signing, comparing Valanciunas to the contribution DeMarcus Cousins made during his brief but effective stint with the Nuggets.
“People forget how valuable Boogie was for us. Jonas can play against small-ball lineups and create from the elbow or the post. He’s someone guards can play off of,” said the coach.
Beyond being a reliable backup, Adelman emphasized that Valanciunas could be a starting center on most teams in the league, but in Denver, he’ll serve a strategic role: keeping the team’s rhythm intact during Jokic’s rest periods and leading the second unit with confidence.
A key bet for Denver’s future
Valanciunas’ contract, which includes $10.4 million guaranteed for 2025-26 and a non-guaranteed $10 million for 2026-27, makes his performance a critical bet both on and off the court. The coaching staff expects the center to join training camp from day one and become a key part of the offensive system, particularly in handoff actions and five-out formations that define Denver’s style.
Adelman also hinted that Valanciunas could add an unexpected layer to the team’s ball movement, despite his career average of just 1.4 assists per game over more than 930 NBA appearances.
Shaquille O’Neal reignites the center debate
Valanciunas’ arrival also comes amid an ongoing conversation about the role of the center in today’s NBA. On his podcast Off the Record, Shaquille O’Neal harshly criticized what he sees as the decline of the position, using Rudy Gobert as a negative example. “I don’t have a problem with Rudy, I have a problem with what he represents. If you’re getting paid $250 million, you better play like it,” said the Hall of Famer.
Shaq, who calls himself the “god and leader of the center alliance,” defended the dominant style of his era: toughness, rebounding, and presence in the paint. He believes many modern centers lack that interior impact. However, he made one clear exception: Nikola Jokic.
Jokic, the hybrid Shaq respects
O’Neal described Jokic as a “great, one-of-a-kind hybrid,” able to combine old-school toughness with modern versatility. In Shaq’s eyes, the Serbian star has earned respect through his ability to play with his back to the basket, pass like a point guard, and control the tempo from anywhere on the floor.
He is, according to O’Neal, the exception in a league where “big men don’t fight in the paint anymore.”
With Valanciunas in the mix, the Nuggets are not only strengthening their rotation but also ensuring Jokic’s health and efficiency in an ever-evolving NBA. The message is clear: in Denver, the center still matters. A lot.
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