By George Efkarpides/ info@eurohoops.net
MANILA, Philippines – Opting to skip international action during the offseason is far from the case for Jonas Valanciunas, in contrast to numerous players instead preferring to recover and prepare for the next season at the club level.
Valanciunas, 31, has not missed a single major international tournament since being promoted from the junior level to the senior national team of Lithuania in 2011. His experience stretches from appearances in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games to five editions of EuroBasket, including two silver medals. The 2023 FIBA World Cup marked his third campaign in FIBA’s flagship international tournament.
“I feel proud playing for my country,” he commented on his remarkable resilience, “That is what I can give for my country. This is how I can put my country on the map. I am going to keep doing that until my body lets me and until the team needs me.”
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The Lithuanian center averaged 14.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game over eight appearances in the World Cup. Now heading to a contract season with the New Orleans Pelicans, Valanciunas is set to add to a total of 828 games played in the NBA, since being selected with the fifth overall pick of the 2011 draft.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL