2025-26 Season
JONAS VALANČIŪNAS
2025-26 Season
JONAS VALANČIŪNAS
Valančiūnas produces at an below average rate for a 13-minute workload. Defensive impact (-1.1/game) is a concern.
Valančiūnas produces at an below average rate for a 13-minute workload. Defensive impact (-1.1/game) is a concern.
PBP Credit: Every play is analyzed from play-by-play data. Scorers get difficulty-adjusted credit, assisters get creation value based on the shot opportunity they created, and turnovers are classified by type. Shot difficulty is derived from 1M+ shots across 4 seasons. Full methodology
TEAM COMPARISON
of 13 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
Similar Players
Same position, closest production profile this season.
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 93 Centers with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
Jonas Valančiūnas spent the first quarter of the season wrestling with the harsh reality of a marginalized backup role, bleeding value during brief, ineffective stints off the bench. He occasionally flashed his old bruising efficiency, erupting for 16 points and six rebounds while hitting a pair of threes during 11/08 vs GSW. That offensive burst and rare perimeter spacing directly fueled a massive +14.5 impact score, serving as a bright spot where his physical presence actually dictated the game. However, his lack of mobility routinely destroyed second-unit lineups, perfectly captured by his outing on 11/01 vs POR. Despite scoring 10 points in just 11 minutes, he posted a miserable -8.7 impact because his heavy feet gave away far more points on the defensive end than he generated in the paint. The bottom completely fell out during 11/18 vs CHI. A disastrous four-minute cameo yielded just two points and a catastrophic -16.5 impact. When a veteran center cannot survive in space, even his most efficient post touches become empty calories.
Valančiūnas spent this midseason stretch oscillating between an ineffective bench piece and a surprisingly dominant spot starter. Despite pouring in 13 points in just 13 minutes on 02/01 vs OKC, his -2.3 impact revealed the hidden costs of his empty-calorie scoring. His sluggish pick-and-roll defense and poor rim protection essentially handed those points right back to the opposition. However, a brief January promotion to the starting five completely flipped his utility. On 01/28 vs DET, he bullied the frontcourt for 16 points and 16 rebounds in 31 minutes, generating a massive +13.4 impact by dominating the glass and securing crucial extra possessions. Once relegated back to the second unit, the veteran quickly turned into a massive liability again. Look no further than 02/04 vs NYK, where his staggering -19.4 impact score on just 2 points laid bare a harsh reality: when he isn't commanding touches, his slow-footed defense makes him virtually unplayable.
Jonas Valančiūnas spent the bulk of this late-season stretch marooned at the end of the rotation, struggling to find rhythm in microscopic, low-leverage stints. His absolute nadir arrived on 03/14 vs LAL, where he posted a disastrous -16.4 impact score in just three minutes of floor time. Bleeding that much value in such a brief window requires a brutal combination of blown defensive assignments and empty offensive possessions. Even when his scoring touch returned, the underlying metrics often rejected his contributions, as seen on 04/08 vs MEM. Despite pouring in 14 points on flawless 6-for-6 shooting in that contest, he still managed a negative -1.0 impact score because his complete lack of playmaking and heavy-footed rim protection surrendered whatever value his finishing created. Yet, when suddenly thrust into the starting lineup on 04/10 vs OKC, the veteran big man unleashed a spectacular throwback performance. He racked up 23 points, 17 rebounds, and four assists in 32 minutes, generating a massive +24.4 impact score by bullying smaller defenders, cleaning the glass relentlessly, and punishing double teams with sharp passing.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Inconsistent. Valančiūnas has clear good-night/bad-night splits, with scoring swinging ~5 points between games. You're never quite sure which version shows up.
Reliable shooter — hits 45%+ from the field in 80% of games. You can count on efficient nights more often than not.
Average defender. Valančiūnas doesn't hurt you defensively, but he's not making opponents uncomfortable either.
In a rough stretch — 4 straight games with negative impact. Longest cold streak this season: 7 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY ⚠ Updated 46 days ago
Based on 63 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
69 games played
