Denver Nuggets head coach David Adelman has delivered a stark message with a bold rotation overhaul, fully scratching veteran center Jonas Valanciunas from the lineup for four straight games in the 2025-26 NBA regular season. In a ruthless pivot toward a versatile small-ball unit, Adelman is prioritizing defensive mobility, switching ability, and transition aggression when Nikola Jokic rests. Instead of turning to the traditional backup big, the Nuggets are deploying lineups that slide Aaron Gordon or Spencer Jones into the center spot.
This complete removal from the rotation represents a harsh low point in the steady decline of the 33-year-old Lithuanian big man. Once a reliable double-double threat who routinely logged over 30 minutes per game just four seasons ago, Valanciunas now finds himself buried on the bench, averaging just 13.3 minutes per game this season with Denver. Even before the recent string of DNP-Coach’s Decisions, his role had become increasingly marginal. Over his last 16 appearances, production had already plummeted to a meager 6.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, highlighting a clear loss of rhythm and impact within the Nuggets’ system.
The friction stems from a turbulent offseason in which Greek EuroLeague powerhouse Panathinaikos Aktor made a massive offer to lure Valanciunas back to Europe. Denver, however, held firm on the NBA contract he acquired via trade from the Sacramento Kings, and the former No. 5 overall draft pick ultimately chose to honor his commitment and remain in the league. That decision now leaves the veteran—with more than 1,000 NBA games under his belt—in a deeply precarious spot as a deep reserve whose court time is no longer assured.
Adelman’s strategic shift underscores a clear vision for the Nuggets’ future: emphasizing speed, versatility, and the ability to disrupt opponents on both ends, even without Jokic on the floor. While Valanciunas has brought experience and solid low-post presence in the past, his limitations in switching on screens and defending in space have become harder to overlook in today’s spread-out, pace-and-space NBA.
For a proud veteran who has carved out a long and respectable career, sitting as a healthy scratch night after night is a bitter pill. Yet for Denver, the move signals an uncompromising commitment to winning now and building lineups that maximize the team’s strengths around their Serbian superstar. As the season pushes toward the playoffs, Adelman’s no-mercy approach could reshape not only the Nuggets’ second unit but also the long-term outlook for a once-prominent backup center. Valanciunas must now find a way to stay ready amid uncertainty, while Denver bets that its ruthless small-ball experiment will pay dividends down the stretch.