A biography for Jonas Valanciunashasn’t been written yet.
“My strength is rebounding and being a big body in the paint.”
“I need to perform in the low post, like a big man, trying to help my team by scoring in the low post.”
“To have a basketball hoop, it doesn't matter what kind. It's a big thing for a kid growing up in a small city, 30,000 people. I remember that day when we put it up. I remember it was my first basketball hoop. I was so excited. Probably the sizes and the height and the rim size, it was not even close to the normal. But it was perfect for me.”
“I'm enjoying playing hard. That's my game. That's my style.”
“It's not an individual sport, so winning is ultimately what matters.”
“I'm not a talker. I don't talk on the court.”
“Coming over to this side and playing in the NBA was my dream, and the dream came true.”
“I just like to laugh once in a while. You have to enjoy yourself. You have to be serious when you have to be serious, but sometimes you have to enjoy yourself and know how to laugh at yourself.”
“I can control what I can control. That's all I can do.”
“Yeah, it's nice when people recognize you and come to say hello. Or some good things, or bad things. Like, 'You gotta do a better job on the post!' 'OK, yeah I will do a better job.'”
“I'm never going to back down from the big matchup.”
“I think you've got to balance your experience with your work.”
“If your guy is not shooting from the outside, you can just sit inside the paint and be the shot-blocker.”
“It's not about scoring, it's not about grabbing rebounds or anything like that. It's just playing, leaving everything out there and just making plays, being in the right place, setting the right screen for the open layup, whatever. It's just fun to play like that.”
“Every time I step on a court wearing the national team jersey, I get goosebumps. It was always like that and I hope it will stay like this.”
“It hurts a lot just losing by three or four points.”
“I'm not really loud and flashy.”
“I'm just doing my job, using my opportunities.”
“It's not an individual sport.”
“It's hard to make the transition from youth basketball to the senior teams. First, you have to not be scared of the players. Then you have to do your best.”