At 34, Valančiūnas officially bids farewell to the NBA! He has signed with Lithuanian powerhouse Žalgiris on a two-year, $5.5 million deal.

As of July 16, Beijing time, following his release from the Denver Nuggets, the 34-year-old center has finalized a two-year deal with Lithuanian powerhouse Žalgiris. Over the two-year period, Valančiūnas will earn roughly €5 million ($5.5 million), and the contract extends until the end of the 2027-28 campaign. Žalgiris has made the signing official.

During the 2025-26 season, Žalgiris finished fifth in the EuroLeague regular season, but the Lithuanian squad was eliminated in the playoff series after falling to Fenerbahçe Beko Istanbul.

Last season, Valančiūnas suited up for 65 games with the Nuggets, averaging 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game, while shooting 58.2% from the field and 30.8% from three-point range.

With Valančiūnas's signing now finalized, Žalgiris has completed its roster construction for the 2026-27 season, and the team is not expected to add any further players.

Valančiūnas's salary at Žalgiris

According to BasketNews, Valančiūnas's total salary over the two years is approximately €5 million ($5.5 million).

For comparison, Valančiūnas earned $10.395 million last season with the Nuggets, which came from the three-year, $30.295 million contract he signed in 2024.

Valančiūnas's cumulative NBA career earnings are estimated to reach $156.15 million.

How Žalgiris secured Valančiūnas

Žalgiris had requested that the Lithuanian big man make a decision by June 22, after which the team received a positive response.

This also means that if Valančiūnas chose to leave the NBA, Žalgiris would be his only destination. The Nuggets waived the 34-year-old player on July 9.

The Lithuanian league champions beat out several other European clubs to successfully land Valančiūnas.

Valančiūnas originally had a one-year, $10 million contract with the Nuggets, which included a team option for the 2026-27 season. However, Denver decided to waive him, making Valančiūnas an unrestricted free agent who could determine his own future.

Even after being waived, Valančiūnas will still receive $2 million from the Nuggets.

A look back at Valančiūnas's NBA career

Last season with the Nuggets: 65 games, averaging 8.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists, with shooting percentages of 58.2% from the field and 30.8% from three.

Throughout his entire NBA career, the No. 5 overall pick has played in 1,002 regular-season games, averaging 12.8 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, with a field goal percentage of 56.1% and a three-point percentage of 34.0%.

In his rookie season (2012-13), Valančiūnas appeared in 62 games for the Toronto Raptors, averaging 8.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, and 0.7 assists, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.