Photo: FIBA

While Panathinaikos offered familiarity and proximity to home, center Jonas Valanciunas opted to stay in Denver with a clear mission: to compete for a championship.

“I am fully committed to honoring my contract with the Nuggets this season and will give it my all to compete for a championship,” the Lithuanian big man told BasketNews.com.

At 33, Valanciunas understands the window for a title run is closing. In Denver, he finds himself in an ideal scenario – backing up the league’s best center in Nikola Jokic, on a team built for deep playoff runs.

It’s a gamble in some ways, as the EuroLeague offer likely came with more long-term financial security and star billing. But for a player chasing a ring, Denver offered something no European club could.

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