While many players choose to skip international action during the offseason to recover and prepare for the club season, Jonas Valanciunas has consistently represented Lithuania on the international stage.
The New Orleans Pelicans big man has participated in major tournaments since 2011, including the Olympics and EuroBasket, with the 2023 FIBA World Cup being his third appearance in this flagship tournament.
“I feel proud playing for my country,” Valanciunas commented on his remarkable resilience. “That is what I can give for my country. This is how I can put my country on the map. I am going to keep doing that until my body lets me and until the team needs me.”