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30 articles
DEN • Center • #17
10 days ago
Already without Nikola Jokić, the Nuggets lost Valančiūnas during Wednesday’s win over the Raptors. The four-week diagnosis means that Denver will be down its top two centers, and with Aaron Gordon (hamstring) also out, they’re in a tough spot depth-wise. DaRon Holmes II played 22 minutes off the bench on Wednesday; look for him to take on a prominent role out of necessity. He’s worth a roll of the dice, while managers can take a “wait and see” approach to Zeke Nnaji, who was a DNP-CD on Wednesday.
Source: Shams Charania
DEN • Center • #17
10 days ago
With Valančiūnas saying in the aftermath of Wednesday’s win over the Raptors that he felt a “pop” in his right calf, he may be looking at an extended absence. Nikola Jokić (knee) will be re-evaluated in four weeks, while Aaron Gordon (hamstring) is not ready to return from his injury. That leaves DaRon Holmes and Zeke Nnaji, with the former playing 22 minutes off the bench in Toronto while the latter was a DNP-CD.
Source: NBA Injury Report
DEN • Center • #17
10 days ago
While we don’t yet have a timeline for how long Valančiūnas might be out, an injury to him right now is obviously brutal, as he’s the only other center on the Nuggets’ roster, aside from Nikola Jokic, who is also out for the next month. It’s unclear how the Nuggets would manage their big man minutes with Aaron Gordon also sidelined. The only other healthy player over 6'9" on their entire roster is Zeke Nnaji, so he may be worth a stash in deeper fantasy formats.
Source: Michael Grange
DEN • Center • #17
11 days ago
Despite his minutes declining, Valančiūnas started 82 games as recently as the 2023-24 season. Last season, he started 21 games, but notably started nine games for the Kings when Domantas Sabonis was injured. Predictably, Valančiūnas started for the injured Nikola Jokic against the Raptors Wednesday. The results were excellent. Valančiūnas had 17 points, nine rebounds and four assists in 23 minutes. He’s rostered in just 29 percent of Yahoo! leagues, but absolutely needs to be picked up in more leagues while Jokic is out.
DEN • Center • #17
13 days ago
While the overall minutes tally for Valančiūnas was modest, he played 11 of those 16 minutes after halftime. The Nuggets were without Nikola Jokić, who suffered a left knee injury during the final seconds of the first half. If Denver has to play without its three-time MVP, Valančiūnas will likely move into the starting lineup. More should be learned about the severity of Jokić’s injury on Tuesday.
DEN • Center • #17
17 days ago
Valančiūnas was initially probable for Thursday’s game, so the status upgrade was expected. He’ll occupy his usual role as Nikola Jokić’s backup, a spot that offers limited fantasy value at best.
Source: NBA Injury Report
DEN • Center • #17
17 days ago
Valančiūnas was dealing with an illness ahead of Denver’s last two games but ultimately filled his usual role as Nikola Jokić’s backup. The probable tag suggests that the veteran center will be able to take on those responsibilities on Thursday night.
Source: NBA Injury Report
DEN • Center • #17
20 days ago
Initially questionable for Monday’s game, Valančiūnas is now officially available. He will continue to fill his usual role of backing up Nikola Jokić, which is not a good spot to find reliable fantasy value.
Source: NBA Injury Report
DEN • Center • #17
2 months ago
Valančiūnas logged his most productive line as a member of the Nuggets on Friday. He scored a season high in points and hit his first couple of threes of the season during his 16 minutes of game action. The veteran center has served as a nice depth piece for Denver in his first season with the team. He likely won’t move the needle in fantasy basketball leagues, but could continue to play an important role for the Nuggets throughout the season.
DEN • Center • #17
4 months ago
JV was Lithuania’s top scorer and rebounder yet again, and he wraps up Eurobasket 2025 play with averages of 15.7 points and 6.7 rebounds across seven appearances. He’ll operate as one of the NBA’s best backup centers behind Nikola Jokic in Denver for the 2025-26 season.
DEN • Center • #17
4 months ago
Having already qualified for the Round of 16 at EuroBasket, Lithuania ended group play with a 4-1 record following Wednesday’s victory. Valančiūnas finished the 74-71 victory one rebound shy of a double-double, showing the attributes that made the Nuggets so willing to acquire him from Sacramento to serve as Nikola Jokić’s backup next season. While that role limits Valančiūnas’ fantasy value, it gives him a far better chance of winning his first NBA title than he would have had with the Kings.
DEN • Center • #17
4 months ago
Valanciunas has been one of the primary scoring options for Lithuania through their first three games of EuroBasket, but this was the first loss for them after they dominated Great Britain and Montenegro. Valanciunas will continue to play an important role for them moving forward, with their next game coming against Finland on Monday.
DEN • Center • #17
5 months ago
Lithuania dominated Montenegro 94-67, so JV didn’t log big minutes, but he was able to make a huge impact in limited court time. Valanciunas’ 19 points led his team, and he surprisingly cashed three triples along the way. Expect him to continue operating as Lithuania’s leading scorer with bigger offensive performances in store for more competitive matchups.
DEN • Center • #17
5 months ago
Lithuania kicked off Eurobasket with a convincing win over Great Britain, and Valanciunas, the lone NBA player on either roster, was the leading scorer and rebounder in this game. He’ll continue to be a focal point for Lithuania throughout the tournament before heading to Denver to play behind Nikola Jokic next season.
DEN • Center • #17
6 months ago
Needing to upgrade their backup center situation, the Nuggets acquired Valančiūnas from the Kings in exchange for Dario Šarić. However, on Thursday, it was reported by BasketNews that the veteran center was considering a move to Europe to play for Greek power Panathinaikos. Valančiūnas is under contract with the Nuggets, so he would require a buyout to move to Greece. According to Charania, the Nuggets view JV as a key component for next season, so he’ll have to fulfill the requirements of his contract. Playing behind Nikola Jokić limits Valančiūnas’ fantasy value, but he’ll have “real” value to a team that hopes to contend for a championship.
Source: Shams Charania
DEN • Center • #17
6 months ago
Reportedly acquired from the Kings in exchange for Dario Šarić, it’s reportedly possible that Valančiūnas will not suit up for the Nuggets in 2025-26. According to BasketNews, Greek power Panathinaikos has offered the veteran center a three-year, €12 million contract. Should he remain in the NBA, Valančiūnas will make nearly $10.4 million with the Nuggets, but the final year of his deal (2026-27) is not guaranteed. The Nuggets appeared to have shored up their backup center position with the Valančiūnas trade, but they’ll be forced to return to the drawing board if he decides to return to Europe to continue his career.
Source: BasketNews
DEN • Center • #17
6 months ago
While Valanciunas’ production has declined over the last three years, the 33-year-old center has proven that he’s still durable appearing in 79, 82 and 81 games. After a midseason trade to the Kings last year, he adequately filled in for Domantas Sabonis while he dealt with injury. Valanciunas could offer the Nuggets similar big man insurance and have fantasy streaming value on nights Nikola Jokic takes off.
Source: Shams Charania
DEN • Center • #17
6 months ago
While Valanciunas’ production has declined over the last three years, the 33-year-old center has proven that he’s still durable appearing in 79, 82 and 81 games. After a midseason trade to the Kings last year, he adequately filled in for Domantas Sabonis while he dealt with injury. Valanciunas could offer the Nuggets similar big man insurance and have fantasy streaming value on nights Nikola Jokic takes off.
Source: Shams Charania
SAC • Center • #17
9 months ago
Sacramento’s centers dominated on Sunday, with Valanciunas providing his first 20-point double-double since joining the team. Playing behind Domantas Sabonis limits JV’s fantasy ceiling considerably, but he’s shown the ability to remain valuable on multiple occasions. Next up for Sacramento is a play-in tournament game on Wednesday against the Mavericks, and they’ll have home-court advantage.
SAC • Center • #17
10 months ago
Valanciunas had a good night against the Bucks, providing solid value in the points, rebounds and field-goal percentage categories. However, he doesn’t offer much in the assist or defensive categories, which has limited his value as Domantas Sabonis’ replacement in the starting lineup. Valanciunas is a must-roster player in his current role, but fantasy managers know the veteran center’s deficiencies. The Kings begin a four-game Week 21 on Monday against the Celtics.
SAC • Center • #17
10 months ago
This was Valanciunas’ second-straight game as a reserve, but he may be headed back to the starting lineup on Wednesday. Domantas Sabonis briefly exited in the first quarter due to an eye laceration, but he was cleared to return. Unfortunately, he didn’t have better luck after that as an ankle injury ended his night after playing just 12 minutes. Sacramento has three games left this week, including a back-to-back on Wednesday and Thursday. Valanciunas should see a boost in production if Sabonis is out.
SAC • Center • #17
10 months ago
Valanciunas has been an excellent option in place of Domantas Sabonis, who has missed Sacramento’s last six games with a hamstring injury. Sabonis practiced on Wednesday and could return to play in Phoenix on Friday. If this was Valanciunas’ final game as a starter, it wasn’t a great send off. He was benched in the second half in favor of Trey Lyles, who scored 11 points in 22 minutes. This was likely more about matchups since Golden State isn’t an easy matchup for a big like Valanciunas. If Sabonis remains out against the Suns, Valanciunas should continue to start despite this frustrating night.
SAC • Center • #17
10 months ago
Valanciunas held his own on the glass again, grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds on Monday. The veteran center has hit double digits in that category in four straight and five of his last six appearances. The increased rebounding production is why Valanciunas has been a top-25 player in nine-cat formats over the past two weeks. He’s already rostered in 85 percent of Yahoo! leagues, and JV will continue to have increased value while the Kings are without Domantas Sabonis.
SAC • Center • #17
10 months ago
Valanciunas had a difficult night shooting the basketball, but there was still some value in his stat line. The 17 rebounds are the most he’s had in a game since his final appearance for the Wizards on February 3, and the veteran center has hit double figures in that category in four of his last five. Add the seven assists, and all wasn’t lost for those who have Valanciunas. Rostered in 84 percent of Yahoo! leagues, he should be held in most leagues until Domantas Sabonis returns from his hamstring injury.
SAC • Center • #17
10 months ago
Valanciunas has now had at least 14 points and at least nine rebounds in four straight games. The 32-year-old center continues to produce at a high level while Domantas Sabonis is out. Valanciunas was just four assists shy of a triple-double Friday against the Spurs. The 13-year veteran is a must-play fantasy option while Sabonis is out.
SAC • Center • #17
10 months ago
Valenciunas continues to produce while filling in for Domantas Sabonis. The 32-year-old center had a double-double and was just four assists shy of a triple-double against the Nuggets on Wednesday. Valenciunas started and played 31 minutes. He’s proven to be a reliable option and should be rostered in all formats as long as Sabonis is out.
SAC • Center • #17
10 months ago
JV shot 6-of-15 from the floor, so there was certainly a lot of meat left on the bone offensively. Still, he tied for the team lead in field-goal attempts, nearly double-doubled and posted useful defensive stats. Fantasy managers should continue to roll with him until Domantas Sabonis returns.
SAC • Center • #17
10 months ago
Valanciunas will make his first start for Sacramento due to Domantas Sabonis’ hamstring injury. JV posted a monster 15/14/1/4/3 line in his last game out, filling in for Sabonis, who left the game early. Valanciunas is a worthy streamer for as long as Sabonis is on the sideline.
Source: NBA.com
SAC • Center • #17
11 months ago
Valanciunas ended up starting the second half and playing an extended role in Saturday’s win because of Domantas Sabonis’ early exit. Sabonis was ruled out with a hamstring injury that he suffered a little over a minute into the game. Valanciunas ended up playing 29 minutes and provided an excellent stat line. Sabonis could certainly miss multiple games, which makes Valanciunas an elite streaming option, especially with a four-game week coming up for the Kings. He’s currently available in 31 percent of Yahoo! leagues, so he may not be easy to find on the waiver wire.
SAC • Center • #17
11 months ago
Valanciunas did not require much time to record a solid stat line on Wednesday, playing just 14 minutes off the bench. While that is impressive, the playing time and who he’s backing up (Domantas Sabonis) is why JV is not as valuable to fantasy managers in Sacramento as he was in Washington. Sabonis played 34 minutes, finishing with 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists, one steal and one blocked shot. Unless Domas were to suffer an injury, there’s little reason why Valancinuas should be rostered in 67 percent of Yahoo! leagues as he currently is.