After Ricky Rubio, Jonas Valanciunas=International Superstar

[SuperSant]

Thomas (Toronto)

Valanciunas has been performing at a very high level this year in Europe. If he was in the 2012 NBA draft, where would he be picked?

Chad Ford (1:43 PM)

I think he'd be the No. 2 pick hands down. Looks like the Raptors got a steal at No. 5 last year.

The chat's ongoing, in case you want to inundate him with draft questions for the next 15 minutes.

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/chat/_/id/42723

Meanwhile, where would you rank Valanciunas among the 2012 draft prospects?

Damn, for a draft as deep as this coming one for him to say Val is the clear Number 2 is a pretty big deal. Can't wait till he comes to the NBA. If somehow the Raps end up with the first pick and get a Front-court rotation of Bargs/Val/A.Davis/E.Davis/A.Johnson That would be one hell of a 5 man big rotation. Offence, Defence, Scoring, Rebounding and Shot blocking everywhere!

[droponov]

Not true.

http:// http://www.in-the-game.org/statistics/i ... eason=2010

Filter by rebounding rate.

Never a higher rebounding rate was recorded (except for guys playing random minutes).

owned.

So a guy that played ONE SEASON of Euroleague in his entire life, that has played in 15 games in the Euroleague in his entire career, and that in that season averaged 5.8 rebounds per game, is, "one of the greatest rebounders in Euroleague history"?

Are you seriously going to go there? I mean REALLY?


Jonas Valaciunas' Euroleague career:

http://www.euroleague.net/competition/p ... code=E2010

15 games

5.8 rebounds per game


= "one of the greatest rebounders in Euroleague history"

"owned"

He meant Valanciunas is one of the best rebounders to ever play in the Euroleague. Or that Valanciunas had one of the best rebounding seasons in the history of the Euroleague. You can choose many ways of wording the obvious: Valanciunas is an excellent rebounder and was dominant as one whenever he played in the Euroleague.

[raptor21_85]

Yoga wants riot riot riot for Big V
Yoga, I think its enough until he shows how important he is in the Olympics

from a raptors fan, mods please should lock this thread

[rmnts]

it's just laughable how Valanciunas plays in highest competition available, be it youth tournaments were he dominates every time, taking MVPs, or Euroleague/Eurocup (miles ahead of NCAA) or even European championship (against same NBA players that starts in NBA today) and he does great, but somehow he still isn't a real deal, and he still have to prove something. He's already international superstar. Any european team could only dream to have a player like him, so stop talking nonsense.

[[SJJ]]

3:00 a.m Halifax, Nova Scotia

You guys are just mad that Val isn't on your teams. It's ok, I'd feel the same way if I was you but common, we're the Raptors, we deserve a good player once every 15 years. To make a long story short, Valanciunas is the man and he's about to shoot free throws like you wouldn't believe. Get ready for some mad Bargs/Val ownage in 2012/2013 - ****'s about to get **** real up in this bitch!

[raptor21_85]

The Raptors fanbase should calm down, Big V is a real talent, some people have accepted it, some havent yet, but this is getting out of control, we cannot come here everytime Big V has a good game... I guess its time for mods to lock this thread..

SJJ, go to sleep

[TylerTheDebater]

I expect Val to be either ROTY or runner up, depending on how Anthony Davis does. Anthony Davis's game might not immediately be great for the NBA since he's defending little kids.

[lothy]

JV was dominant in VTB league this February.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp6q30iXem8&feature=player_embedded#![/youtube]

[Relentless88]

Valanciunas' offense is really bonus. Next to a dynamic offensive player like Bargnani, we just need Val to rebound, block shots and play good defense. He's already proven to be one of the best rebounders in euro league history. What's especially intriguing is his percentages at the line, which I believe is at 88%. Sure he's raw offensively, but when you can knock down FTs at that clip as a 7 footer, then you definitely have room to improve offensively.

Not true.

Okay, sorry if I offended you with my wording.

I should have said that he had one of the best rebounding rates in euro league history as an 18-19 year old. That is impressive, and if you disagree - we'll have to agree to disagree.

[Yoga]

Jonas Valanciunas was named as February's MVP in VTB league.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp6q30iXem8&feature=player_embedded#![/youtube]

[BillyGM]

K0

[Kabookalu]

it's just laughable how Valanciunas plays in highest competition available, be it youth tournaments were he dominates every time, taking MVPs, or Euroleague/Eurocup (miles ahead of NCAA) or even European championship (against same NBA players that starts in NBA today) and he does great, but somehow he still isn't a real deal, and he still have to prove something. He's already international superstar. Any european team could only dream to have a player like him, so stop talking nonsense.

Because things don't always translate. Sarunas Jasikevicius flamed out in the NBA and he was backed by a great career overseas. I'm hoping he turns out to be a great player, but I want to see him do it first rather than cite his past achievements that may not even matter.

[UcanUwill]

it's just laughable how Valanciunas plays in highest competition available, be it youth tournaments were he dominates every time, taking MVPs, or Euroleague/Eurocup (miles ahead of NCAA) or even European championship (against same NBA players that starts in NBA today) and he does great, but somehow he still isn't a real deal, and he still have to prove something. He's already international superstar. Any european team could only dream to have a player like him, so stop talking nonsense.

Because things don't always translate. Sarunas Jasikevicius flamed out in the NBA and he was backed by a great career overseas. I'm hoping he turns out to be a great player, but I want to see him do it first rather than cite his past achievements that may not even matter.

Jasikevicius never had tools to be NBA star. terrible defender, non athletic. He did fine, he was good offensively, I dont think he bust or didnt translated his game... He just wanted to try NBA ball before he retires, he did and he left... he spent 2 years, you cant really judge his NBA career.

Valanciunas looks like a born NBA player to me. Kinda like Rubio. you just can see the potential

P.S. i do not think he will be ROY or a runner up tho. He shares same weaknesses as Nikola Pekovic. Fouls, occasional TOs, suspicious screens... Pek had a terrible rookie year, I expect Valanciunas to have similar one.

[Yoga]

KO

[HSOB SIRHC]

JV proving he can do it all during the all-star game!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1RO2P6XCDo[/youtube]

[Egg Nog]

JV proving he can do it all during the all-star game!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1RO2P6XCDo[/youtube]

What's with the wizard, lol...

[Next Coming]

JV proving he can do it all during the all-star game!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1RO2P6XCDo[/youtube]

WTF! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Is this a joke?

[IMALOVER]

JV proving he can do it all during the all-star game!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1RO2P6XCDo[/youtube]

What's with the wizard, lol...

Clearly hes gonna force a trade to the Washington Wizards.

[peja drobnjak]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbANj4ogPVc&feature=related[/youtube]

il mago just got demoted to sorcerer's apprentice

[lothy]

Here is explanation for some of the questions. Credit goes to Irgigi.

The sign Jonas is holding, says " Let's go 'Seibutis' " or i'd say more like "Go kick their asses 'Seibutis' " It's not easy to translate, but "Go kick their asses" should be best translation of the word "Pavaryk". Seibutis is the name of his teammate. This all thing started when another player in a radio, before important game said that phrase "Seibuti pavaryk" (meaning "Seibutis, go kick their asses"). And radio caught this phrase, made it famous like "i'll be back" by Arnold or whatever.
In Toronto case translation would be like "GO DeMar"
Fans are holding that sign in most of Lietuvos rytas games now. The most fun thing was in last VTB game, when some dude dressed like referee came into the court during the break and was showing that sign (you can find video in JV thread posted by Random guy i think).
So JV was making parody of that movement. He is really playing for fun and for crew
The sign Jonas is holding, says " Let's go 'Seibutis' " or i'd say more like "Go kick their asses 'Seibutis' " It's not easy to translate, but "Go kick their asses" should be best translation of the word "Pavaryk". Seibutis is the name of his teammate. This all thing started when another player in a radio, before important game said that phrase "Seibuti pavaryk" (meaning "Seibutis, go kick their asses"). And radio caught this phrase, made it famous like "i'll be back" by Arnold or whatever.
In Toronto case translation would be like "GO DeMar"
Fans are holding that sign in most of Lietuvos rytas games now. The most fun thing was in last VTB game, when some dude dressed like referee came into the court during the break and was showing that sign (you can find video in JV thread posted by Random guy i think).
So JV was making parody of that movement. He is really playing for fun and for crew

Also, here is the prove that JV has got 3-point range
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3wPCPNOC9w&feature=context&context=C343df39ADOEgsToPDskIlV4_mp90W1-F1nCztOvMh[/youtube]