Jonas Valančiūnas
A Lithuanian basketball force whose old-school, bruising interior play and relentless rebounding have anchored NBA teams for over a decade.
Born 1992 (age 34)·Lithuanian basketball player·Birthday: May 6·Millennials
Biography
Jonas Valančiūnas carries the torch of great Lithuanian big men with a no-nonsense, physical style forged in European competition. A prodigy in his hometown of Utena, he dominated the Lithuanian league with Lietuvos Rytas, earning MVP honors and catching the eye of NBA scouts with his soft hands, footwork, and imposing seven-foot frame. Drafted fifth overall by the Toronto Raptors in 2011, he spent a season refining his game in Europe before arriving in North America. In Toronto, he became a double-double mainstay, a classic center in a league rapidly shifting towards perimeter play. Traded to Memphis, he embraced a grittier identity, leading the league in offensive rebounds. Stints in New Orleans and Washington followed, where his consistency as a scorer and rebounder remained unwavering. A move to the Sacramento Kings and later the Denver Nuggets saw him adapt as a veteran presence. For Lithuania, he has been a cornerstone, battling in the paint at multiple EuroBaskets and Olympic Games, upholding a national basketball tradition.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jonas was born in 1992, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jonas Was Born
The biggest hits of 1992
#1 Movie
Aladdin
Best Picture
Unforgiven
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Jonas's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1992Born
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1997Started school
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2005Became a teenager
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Could drive
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2010Could vote
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Turned 21
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2022Turned 30
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 34 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named the NBA's Western Conference Player of the Week in March 2022 while with the New Orleans Pelicans.
- Led the NBA in offensive rebounds per game during the 2019-20 season with the Memphis Grizzlies.
- Won the Lithuanian League MVP award in 2012 while playing for Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius.
- Earned NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors with the Toronto Raptors in the 2012-13 season.
Did You Know?
He was drafted by the Toronto Raptors in 2011 but played one more season in Lithuania before joining the NBA.
He holds the Raptors' franchise record for most rebounds in a playoff game (24, set in 2016).
He is an avid fan of rally racing and has participated in amateur events in Lithuania.
His son was born in Toronto, Canada, during his tenure with the Raptors.
“I'm not a flashy player. I just try to do my job: rebound, score inside, play hard.”
