By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Interviewed by 24sek.lt’s Kestas Rimkus, Jonas Valanciunas has touched on several topics such as his stint in the NBA with the New Orleans Pelicans, a potential return to Europe, and more after being seen in Kaunas for the EuroLeague Final Four. “I wanted to enjoy basketball. A different one from the NBA, but a very high-level”, he commented on the first-ever Final Four in the Zalgirio Arena.
Asked if he sees himself playing in Europe once he’s done with the NBA, he was quite frank about it. “I can see myself playing for a European club, playing there for a year or two. I’ve felt sympathy for European basketball for my whole life, so I would not rule such a possibility in the future”, the current New Orleans Pelicans center said.
Talking about the NBA franchise, he said he would like to stay there. “I would like to stay and extend my contract. Obviously, during the season, you try to help the team as much as possible, but when the summer comes, you try to take care of your own things”, the former Rytas Vilnius center said before talking about his countryman Domantas Sabonis potentially missing the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
“You can’t choose or predict injuries, things like that happen. There is a lot of uncertainty regarding his injured finger. It’s a delicate situation, he really has a busy summer ahead of him”, Valanciunas said about a meeting he had with Sabonis. He was then asked if the Sacramento Kings‘ own will make it to Japan. “I don’t want to answer for him. It’s his decision to make. Usually, he always comes to play for Lithuania. If he’s ready physically and he’ll sort his contract stuff, I hope he comes”, he added.
PHOTO CREDIT: EuroBasket 2022