By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Jonas Valanciunas has been named the best Lithuanian player of the year for 2021, the Basketball Federation announced.
The New Orleans Pelicans center received this honor for the fifth time and for the first time after four years. He won in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, and 2021.
“It’s a big honor. It’s my fifth award, thanks for voting and believing in me. I’ll see you on the court,” Valanciunas said.
Valanciunas received 3842 votes and finished in front of Domantas Sabonis who had 3436 votes. Rokas Jokubaitis (1424) finished third followed by Marius Grigonis (761) and Lukas Lekavicius (641).
Sabonis won the award for the previous three years (2018, 2019, 2020) while Linas Kleiza also won it multiple times (2009, 2010).
Valanciunas led the Lithuanian national team in the qualifiers for the Olympics, averaging 16 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 23 index rating. He’s also been on a roll in the NBA with the Pelicans with perhaps his best season yet in the league (18.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists).