The Denver Nuggets acquired Jonas Valanciunas with a clear goal in mind. Nikola Jokic is widely regarded as the best center in the NBA, but depth has been an issue at the position and Denver realized that a proven veteran was needed for the task at hand.
Valanciunas' contributions have flown under the radar in 2025-26, but make no mistake about it: He's the secret weapon Denver hoped he would be.
Valanciunas, 33, is currently playing just 12.2 minutes per game—by far the fewest of his career. He's made the most of his opportunities, however, averaging 8.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.5 offensive boards, 1.1 assists, and 0.6 blocks per contest.
Valanciunas' already solid production translates to thrilling averages of 25.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, 4.4 offensive boards, 3.2 assists, and 1.9 blocks per 36 minutes.
Valanciunas' top-tier production has allowed Denver to successfully generate offense when Jokic isn't on the court. It's a luxury they've rarely provided to the three-time MVP, but with Valanciunas in the fold, even limited minutes can carry a significant impact.
The Nuggets will continue to run through Jokic, but Valanciunas has afforded them a golden opportunity to hold on to leads and maximize the current team's potential.
Jonas Valanciunas doesn't need big minutes to make impact on Nuggets
Valanciunas is a proven commodity with 14 seasons of high-level production and unwavering efficiency. The Nuggets knew that going into their acquisition of the big man and are already reaping the benefits of his presence.
Some might downplay Valanciunas' impact considering he only plays 12.2 minutes per game, but it's already being felt in ways the stat sheet may not always show.
The true beauty of Valanciunas' value to the Nuggets is that he doesn't need to be on the court to make Denver a better team. His quality and production are clearly crucial, but his ability to impact winning is built around a simple truth: He offers genuine relief to Nikola Jokic.
With Valanciunas capable of playing between 15 and 20 high-level minutes per outing, Jokic finally has a chance to rest during games.
Denver is still being outscored when Jokic isn't on the court, with a net rating of -4.5. That's up dramatically from the 2024-25 figure of -9.3, however, and Valanciunas deserves significant credit for narrowing the proverbial gap.
With Valanciunas on the court, the Nuggets can still operate with post offense and elbow production in mind, meaning the changes to their system aren't nearly as drastic as they were a season ago when Jokic would come off the court.
Furthermore, Valanciunas' ability to contribute positively allows Jokic to pick his spots and play a more aggressive style knowing his minutes distribution will be more manageable. In the bigger picture, Jokic will play less during the regular season and should thus have more energy during the playoffs.
That alone makes the Valanciunas acquisition one of the best of 2025 and the very definition of a secret weapon: A player who helps even when no one realizes it.