The Nuggets center shared his perspective on Denver’s play to start the season
It’s week four of the 2025-26 NBA season, and the Denver Nuggets, who sit at 8-2 through their first 10 games, have established themselves as early contenders in a competitive Western Conference.
Valančiūnas noted the Nuggets’ playing style, which, according to him, has been defined by unselfishness – helping each other and working together as a collective unit.
“We’re collectively doing [our] job defending, helping each other,” Valančiūnas said. “On offense too, we’re just having fun. We play together. Sharing the ball, getting guys open, it’s fun to play that way, and hopefully we’re going to continue.”
Valančiūnas joined the Nuggets via trade this offseason, heading to Denver after playing with the Kings for half a season. Prior to that, he most notably spent the first six and a half seasons of his career with the Toronto Raptors.
In Toronto, he spent years as the staple big man alongside stars like Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies midway through the 2018-2019 season. Unfortunately for Valančiūnas, he missed out on the Raptors’ championship run later that year.
Being with the Nuggets now, this season may serve as his best shot at winning an NBA Finals, especially after spending time with the Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Washington Wizards and Kings, whose yearly championship hopes were not as high as a franchise like Denver’s.
Valančiūnas has played in all 10 games for the Nuggets this season, and is averaging nine points and five rebounds per contest. He has served as a nice counter to three-time MVP center Nikola Jokić, who has not had a consistent big man to back him up for the past couple seasons.
“As long as we’re winning, it’s good,” Valančiūnas said. “I mean, we have ups and downs during the game, throughout all the games. But we find a groove, we find energy to keep it up, and win the games, so that’s beautiful.”
The Nuggets play the Los Angeles Clippers on night two of a back-to-back tonight at 10:30 p.m. EST.
This will be the team’s second of three consecutive road games before the Nuggets head back home to play the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 17 following their contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Nov. 15.