Exclusive: Valančiūnas Reflects on EuroBasket Hosting, Battles with Dončić, and FIBA Recruitment Amid Gafford Buzz
Jonas Valančiūnas has been a cornerstone of Lithuanian basketball. As the country bids to host FIBA EuroBasket 2029, like Luka Dončić’s native Slovenia, he reflected on the significance of such an event for his homeland.
“First, a lot has to happen — paperwork, details, all that. But if we get the chance, it would be amazing,” Valančiūnas told DallasHoopsJournal.com before facing the Dallas Mavericks at Capitol One Arena. “It’s a basketball feast. We’re a basketball country, just like Slovenia. It would be an honor to host the EuroBasket.”
Lithuania, which last hosted the tournament in 2011, joins Slovenia, Greece, and others in vying for the prestigious event. For Valančiūnas, hosting the tournament would celebrate the nation’s deep basketball roots.
Slovenia has also submitted a bid, and Dončić expressed his enthusiasm about possibly hosting the tournament in his home country.
“That would be a dream come true, playing in front of fans in a big tournament at the EuroBasket,” Dončić told DallasHoopsJournal.com.
Clashes with Luka Dončić on the International Stage
Valančiūnas and Dončić have faced off in several high-stakes international matchups. Most recently, Lithuania defeated Slovenia 100-84 at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila. Valančiūnas recorded 24 points and 12 rebounds, marking his eighth double-double in World Cup play. Dončić scored 29 points but shot just 7-of-21 from the field.
In their earlier clash at the 2021 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Dončić delivered a triple-double with 31 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists, leading Slovenia to a 96-85 victory and its first-ever Olympic berth. That performance eliminated Lithuania from Olympic contention.
“I think it’s, it’s easy to say—he’s a really, really good player,” Valančiūnas said about Dončić to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “His basketball IQ and craftiness and abilities are impressive, and he is just not getting himself going. Everybody around him is feeding off him. So it’s hard to go against him.”
Depending on how the groups play out, Valančiūnas and Dončić could add to their history of head-to-head matchups. Valančiūnas, who could not play at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico, confirmed to DallasHoopsJournal.com that he intends to play at EuroBasket, assuming he’s healthy.
Dončić also confirmed his intentions to compete at EuroBasket to DallasHoopsJournal.com, saying, “I’m looking forward to just playing for my country,” Dončić told DallasHoopsJournal.com after recording 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists against the Washington Wizards. “Obviously, I’m going to play. It’s a pride, a joy to play for your own country every time I can. So, I’m going to do it.”
Defending Luka Dončić and Daniel Gafford
Valančiūnas, who is averaging 11.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists with the Wizards, also shared his perspective on defending Dončić and Mavericks teammate Daniel Gafford, whose pick-and-roll partnership has been a focal point of Dallas’ offense.
“He can pass, that’s for sure. You’ve just got to set a good screen, as simple as that,” Valančiūnas told DallasHoopsJournal.com.
Defending Dončić and Gafford requires a collective effort, which should illustrate just how valuable having the Mavericks center would be for Slovenia.
“You’ve got to do a good job in the pick-and-roll. It’s not just two guys’ job to stop it. All five players need to be involved — tags, weak-side help, low man — it’s a full-team scheme,” Valančiūnas explained to DallasHoopsJournal.com.
Gafford, meanwhile, has credited the growing chemistry with Dončić for his improved offensive efficiency and overall play amid a career year. Gafford has scored in double figures in 15 consecutive games, averaging 12.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.3 assists across 22 performances.
“When we first started out, the chemistry was good, but I feel like it’s gotten better over time,” Gafford explained to DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I pick his brain a lot, and he tells me just the spacing and areas that I need to be in when it comes to just setting pick-and-rolls and just how to get him downhill or so forth.”
Perspective on FIBA Recruitment
Valančiūnas offered his thoughts on the growing trend of naturalized players joining national teams, a topic of increasing debate in international basketball. A recent rumor was that Los Angeles Lakers guard D’Angelo Russell was interested in joining Lithuania’s national team. Valančiūnas emphasized the need for a connection to the country to participate with any national team.
“They’re going to take me! [Laughs] I’m joking. Honestly, I don’t have much of an opinion about teams hunting for players. A national team is a national team — you need roots, a connection to the country. Teams do it, but I don’t have a real stance on it,” Valančiūnas told DallasHoopsJournal.com.
The topic resonates beyond Europe, as players like Gafford have been considered for naturalization. Gafford was identified as a potential addition to Slovenia’s national team during the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Greece last summer. However, the timing of the opportunity wasn’t right coming off the NBA Finals and a recent trade to the Mavericks.
“It was something that was like consideration, but it’s pretty much a timing thing for me,” Gafford told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “I like to spend the majority of my time with my family, so it’ll just depend, for sure.”
Gafford, who has seen teammates benefit from international competition, acknowledged the unique opportunities that representing a national team can provide, including continued development during the NBA offseason.
“It’s just something that I always see that works because they have just like a live person in front of them,” Gafford told DallasHoopsJournal.com. “So it teaches them the game a lot more and keeps them, I would say, in tune with the game a lot more as well.”
While Valančiūnas reflected on the cultural roots of national teams, Gafford described his potential participation with Slovenia as something that could strengthen his connection with Dončić both on and off the court as teammates.
“It would give me a chance to see his background, learn about where he came from, and understand how he started his professional career. That would help us connect more,” Gafford told DallasHoopsJournal.com.
As Lithuania prepares for EuroBasket 2025 and potentially hosts it in 2029, Valančiūnas remains a key figure in his country’s basketball journey. Whether on the court or reflecting on the game’s traditions, his influence continues to resonate.
