We don’t talk much about him, but Jonas Valanciunas remains a pillar of the Pelicans. Through his experience, but also his physical impact, his good hands and his ability to make the attackers Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum shine. For the Lithuanian pivot, everyone should think like that.
“The goal is the team”he says. “It’s not a personal goal. The team has goals. The team aims to win. You have to do whatever it takes to win. It might not be my night, and I might have to work for other guys to score. Basketball is not just about scoring points. You have to do other things to be successful. Install screens. Getting other players open. The timing. Spacing. These are very important things. We all have to do it. »
Jonas Valanciunas calls for a “change in mentality”
Even if the objective is therefore collective, Jonas Valanciunas does not forget that this is a decisive season on a personal level. The Pelicans pivot will be a free agent at the end of the season, and there is always a certain pressure when you reach the end of your contract.
“I don’t think about it at all,” he assures. “I’m just going to play basketball. When you’re a basketball player, it’s one year at a time, and I’m going to give it my all. Where the future will take me is a mystery. But it’s fun like that. We don’t know what might happen tomorrow. You have to take advantage of today. We have to take advantage of this year. You have to enjoy every match you play. You just try to give your best, and that’s what I try to do. »
With the collective objective of erasing the last failed season.
“We didn’t accomplish what we wanted to accomplish last year. We must change our mentality. We have to be more focused than last year. A new year awaits us. Time passes. We can’t stop time. It has to be done. »
