Valančiūnas recalls NBA highlights, draft night nerves

As Lithuanian basketball star Jonas Valančiūnas prepares for a new chapter with his hometown club "Žalgiris" in Kaunas, "Žalgiris TV" released a compilation of his most memorable NBA moments. The feature includes highlights from his NBA draft night, his initial points scored in the league, and amusing anecdotes from the locker room.

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I hope you won't show that interview – my English might have improved a bit now, but back then I had none at all. It was truly fun to remember, I even got cold. I don't remember anything at all because it all happened so fast, unexpectedly, difficultly and easily at the same time, so all the emotions came together, it was a complete dream.

Reflecting on his draft night, Valančiūnas admitted his English was significantly worse back then. "I hope you won't show that interview – my English might have improved a bit now, but back then I had none at all," he said. He described the experience as a dream, a blur of speed, unexpectedness, difficulty, and ease, all mixed into one overwhelming emotional event. He recalled purchasing his suit in Lithuania and meticulously trying on accessories, noting that while there were rumors about his draft position, his agents had largely orchestrated the process. "Sweat was pouring not from the heat, but from excitement," he recalled.

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Sweat was pouring not from the heat, but from excitement.

Valančiūnas also reacted to his debut game overseas, remembering feeling "robbed" at the end of a match. He then spoke about the crucial role of the locker room environment. "It took many years of hard work to become a solid part of the locker room. There were many negative moments, arguments, curses, and throwing things, but you have to go through it," he explained. He likened the locker room to a family, where shared experiences forge strong bonds and good chemistry. "It all starts in the locker room and how you communicate, how you accept each other and are interested in one another. We come from different countries, cultures, so it takes time to unite everything," he added.

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It all starts in the locker room and how you communicate, how you accept each other and are interested in one another. We come from different countries, cultures, so it takes time to unite everything.

The center also revealed the story behind his signature "juke" move and discussed his on-court emotions. He humorously commented on a play where he believed a foul was missed, leading to overtime. "It was a foul, they didn't call it. We should have won, but we went into overtime. Although I might not have made the free throws, so maybe it's good they didn't call it. But I think there was a foul, or maybe not," he mused with a smile.

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It was a foul, they didn't call it. We should have won, but we went into overtime. Although I might not have made the free throws, so maybe it's good they didn't call it. But I think there was a foul, or maybe not.