Jonas Valanciunas, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors, will make his NBA debut for the Raptors on Thursday night, according to the National Post's Eric Koreen. Valanciunas, a 7'0 center from Lithuania, will make his debut against the Detroit Pistons at the Palace at Auburn Hills.
Despite being drafted by the Raptors in 2011, Valanciunas had to wait a season before he could take a $2.5 million contract buyout from his European team, Lietuvos Rytas of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LKF). While playing for Rytas, Valanciunas averaged 10.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 63.4% from the field, helping Rytas to third place in the Eurocup Tournament.
In LKF, Valanciunas helped Rytas to the championship in 2010. He is also a three-time LKF All-Star and a two-time LKF All-Star game MVP. Valanciunas was also named MVP of the Europe Under-16 Championship in 2009, Europe Under-18 Championship in 2010 and the World Under-19 Championship in 2011.
Re: Jonas Valanciunas to make debut with Toronto Raptors on Thursday
Pretty sure the Raps play Wednesday and Friday, regardless I'm excited for this. Lowry and Valanciunas are the 2 main reasons why I will be watching Raptor games this year.
Re: Jonas Valanciunas to make debut with Toronto Raptors on Thursday
^^ Yeah that's what i've been wanting as well. Who cares if we throw him in there and he gets into early foul trouble. We don't have the type of team where playing a young inexperienced rookie would have a negative impact. No point in easing him in. I mean I don't care how much he plays in the preseason but at least when the season starts.
Re: Jonas Valanciunas to make debut with Toronto Raptors on Thursday
I am predicting very slow start for him, but u shouldn't get too disappointed with that as i see him nearly at all-star or all-star level in 3years, and by then he's going to be only 23.
Jonas Valanciunas to make debut with Toronto Raptors on Thursday
